Book Exerpt
Why Bethlethem?
By Bodie & Brock Thoene
Authors, Why a Manger
CBN.com –
(Excerpt from Why a Manger ) Ask anyone who celebrates Christmas where the Christ-child was
born, and most will name Bethlehem. Carols like "0 Little Town
of Bethlehem" memorialize its fame.
Many could also explain why dusty, insignificant Bethlehem was chosen
for such an important event. In Hebrew, Bethlehem means "House
of Bread." It was prophesied that Messiah, "the Bread sent
down from heaven to feed the souls of mankind," would be a descendent
of King David. He would also be born in the same city where David, the
shepherd-king of Israel, was born - Bethlehem!
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans
of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times -Micah 5:2
The bawling of sheep rang across the fields of Bethlehem. Migdal Eder,
the Tower of the Flock, was the place where lambs destined for the Temple
were born and raised. Every firstborn male lamb from the area around
Bethlehem was considered holy, set aside for sacrifice in Jerusalem.
Generations of hereditary shepherds tended the sacred flocks. They were
common folk, used to many cold, lonely nights in the fields. As protectors
of the sheep, they risked their lives to keep the animals from going
astray ... and falling into the many ravines of the hill country.
After pouring their lives out into their flocks, the shepherds would
separate the lambs, choosing only the perfect firstborn males to drive
to Jerusalem. There the lambs would be purchased by those who wished
to atone for their sins. On the same mountain where Abraham had offered
his son to the Lord, the lambs would shed their blood and lose their
lives as that atonement. It was an endless cycle.
When Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you
prepared for me, with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not
pleased.
Then I said, `Here I am-it is written about me in the scroll- I have
come to do your will, 0 God."' -Hebrews 10:5-7
John the Baptist called Jesus not only the "Son of God" (John
1:34) but also the "Lamb of God" (John 1:36).
The Firstborn Lamb of God would sacrifice his life to atone for the
sins of all - a one-time perfect sacrifice, offered by the Father God
Himself.
Where else would "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of
the world" (John 1:29) have to be born if not Bethlehem, among
the sacred Temple flocks?
But the way in which the Lamb would arrive remained a mystery to be
solved.There had been so many years of longing for the Messiah to come
and avenge the wrongs of a depraved world.
So many years of hoping for the fall of evil rulers ... and the revealing
of the One who would be King forever. So many years of waiting in expectant
hope ... and never seeing an answer.
Yet when Messiah did come, who in all Israel knew it? Only a handful
were aware of the miracle, and most of them were common folk - the humble
shepherds of Bethlehem.
Why would Messiah choose to arrive in such an out-of-way place as Bethlehem?
And why would the shepherds be the first to greet him?
Even this was in God's eternal plan.
"I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and
they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,"
declares the Lord. "The days are coming... when I will raise up
to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what
is just and right in the land." -Jeremiah 23:4-5
The greatest King of all would arrive in Little Bethlehem, the City
of David, the city of shepherds. The place where sacrificial lambs were
born and raised. He was placed in a manger. What did that sign mean
to the shepherds? What does it mean to you today?
More about The Nativity Story on CBN.com
Excerpted from Why a Manger?, copyright © 2006 by Bodie and Brock
Thoene. Used by Permission.
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