It is written, you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” Micah 5:2.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. Luke 2:4

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House of Bread

The name Bethlehem comes from the two Hebrew words bêth, meaning house, home, or place and lehem, meaning bread,together defining Jesus’ birthplace as a House of Bread.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem was a small village with no political or religious prestige. It was certainly not the place people expected the Messiah to come from, and the fact he did caused great confusion for some who heard the news. Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem clashed with the idea of a Mighty God, a hero who would deliver God’s people. The hope of a Redeemer stirred visions of a valiant and regal warrior, not a humble baby in a manger. In a place of simplicity and obscurity, our Savior arrived – just as it was supposed to be.

If we slow down and take a moment to examine the overlooked details of the story, we’ll see Jesus’ quiet arrival creates a tapestry of hope woven together with the prophecies of old. This is finally where the story changes. This is the place from which the light appears.

Our Spotless Lamb

Long before Jesus was born there, Bethlehem held deep significance. It was the burial site of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife. It was also the city of David, the shepherd boy who’d one day become a king – leading God’s people and shaping a legacy of worship that would echo through Jerusalem.

Bethlehem was also well known for raising unblemished firstborn male lambs, wrapped in cloths and brought to Jerusalem as Passover sacrifices in the temple.

Firstborn.

Male.

Wrapped in cloths.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger…(Luke 2:7).

Through his birth in Bethlehem, Jesus entered the world already bearing great meaning and power. He came as our sinless, spotless, sacrificial lamb – God’s ultimate sacrifice, offered on our behalf. The details were not accidental – not in time, nor by place. Every thread was intricately woven into the story of redemption God has been writing from the beginning.

Jesus’ birth foreshadowed His life.

And His life pointed toward His death—

the weight of our sin bore on the cross.

Do This In Remembrance of Me

In the church today, we practice communion — following the Lord’s instruction to take this cup and eat of this bread in remembrance of Him. For a long time, my understanding of this moment centered solely on the cross: His body broken for us, remembered in the bread; His blood poured out for us, remembered in the cup. Through His death, we are forgiven, restored, and reconciled to God. While this is the primary purpose, function, and meaning behind the act of communion, the study of Bethlehem shows us that it also whispers of Jesus’ birth.

Today, as we take communion –

as we lift the cup in remembrance of His blood poured out,

as we receive the bread, honoring the body that bore our sin,

we remember the everlasting faithfulness of God.

We remember Jesus, our Bread of Life, and the prophecies He came to fulfill.

We remember Jesus, our sinless spotless Lamb, and the power of His blood to redeem, restore, and reconcile. In this day, there’s no more raising unblemished firstborn male lambs for Passover. We don’t have to. Jesus, Son of God, came, lived and died to set us free. His body and his blood have done it all.

As we reflect on Jesus’ birth, may we celebrate the hope he brought with him, from the meek little town of Bethlehem.

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Oh humble town of Bethlehem, how can it be,

that out of you would come our worthy King?

This is the testimony, how God willed it to be –

From a cradle born was our King.

This is the good news of Jesus;

It’s so much better than we could ever dream.