12/24/2022
We all know the Christmas story. It climaxes with the birth of our Savior in the little village of Bethlehem of Judea. The birthplace of Jesus Christ is one of the many places most tours visit in Israel.
Today Bethlehem overflows with 28,500 people; but when Jesus was born, it was a small village of 300. Not the likely place for the King of kings to be born.
So why Bethlehem and not a seemingly more suitable site for His entry into this world, such as Abraham’s town, Hebron, or the city of His Father’s House, Jerusalem?
One reason relates to Jesus’ lineage. He is a descendant of King David, and Bethlehem was David’s hometown. So Bethlehem was the most natural place for Jesus to be born. A census, ordered by Roman ruler Caesar Augustus (Lk. 2:1–3), took Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to their ancestral town of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. (God controlled Caesar to fulfill His promise)
But there is more to God’s choice of location that points to the importance of Jesus’ birth. In the Bible, names often have significance and help us better understand what God is communicating to us. Bethlehem, which in Hebrew is Beit - meaning house and lechem meaning bread, combined means “house of bread,” links Jesus to the basic substance of life: bread, a symbol of great significance in God’s Word. In fact, this important connection was God’s design.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He called Himself “the bread which came down from heaven” (Jn. 6:41). This bread, He said, “gives life to the world” (v. 33). Where else could the Savior be born but in Bethlehem, the house of bread? Jesus told His followers He alone is the “bread of life” and “the living bread” (v. 51) in whom men must believe to have eternal life (vv. 32–58).
Bread is also commonly used nearly 100 times in the New Testament, most of them in the Gospels related to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Unlike bread from the oven that satisfies for a short while, the Bread of Life satisfies forever. Those who eat it will never hunger or thirst (John. 6:35).
The Son of God, from the house of bread (Bethlehem), told His disciples to pray for their “daily bread” (Mt. 6:11); and before He went to the cross, He ordained the breaking of bread as part of the Lord’s memorial supper. Looking forward to His future glory, Jesus said those who eat bread in the Kingdom of God will be blessed (Luke. 14:14).
What an incredible gift is this Living Bread from God!
As you smell fresh bread baking or you enjoy sweet holiday bread over a meal in your celebration of Christ’s birth this year, remember that Jesus, the Bread of Life, was born in the house of bread to bring life everlasting to you!
Milling your own wheat takes us back to the days of Jesus, when grains were milled fresh on a weekly basis. The millstone was the most precious commodity in the home. It was necessary for life.
As you serve freshly milled bread to your family for this season remember this is a daily reminder of all our Lord and Savior has come for us to do.
He is our Provider, our Sustainer and our Lord.
There is no greater health to be experienced as when we recognize his love for us and our cells rejoice.
Blessings to you this season and the whole year long......
Look for the manna. It will make the difference of where you spend eternity.
