Born in David’s Hometown, the “House of Bread”

“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. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

- Luke 2:4-5


Mary and Joseph were betrothed and living in Nazareth, where the angel Gabriel had announced the coming birth of Jesus. But Bethlehem, not Nazareth, provided the environs for Jesus’s birth. A Roman census initiated by Caesar Augustus required everyone who owned property to register it in person for taxation purposes. Because Joseph was from Bethlehem, the census set them on the road to that village.

The Gospel writers make special effort to be sure we know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as it happened there to fulfill a promise the Lord had made through the prophet Micah. “But 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).

Many babies were born in the Promised Land, but only a child born in Bethlehem qualified for consideration as the promised Messiah.

Why did the Lord pick Bethlehem? This was David’s hometown, a village that had enjoyed a long association with David’s ancestors, including his great-grandmother Ruth. To think about Bethlehem was to think about David. To think about David meant to think about the powerful promise the Lord had given him. One of David’s descendants would rise to sit on Israel’s throne and rule an eternal kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Thus an important link was forged through family history and prophecy. From the town of Bethlehem, which means “house of bread,” would come King Jesus who said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry” (John 6:35).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank You for fulfilling Your Father’s promise to be born
in the city of David, Bethlehem, “the house of bread,” and for inaugurating Your rule on earth as the King of Kings for eternity.

 


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Jim C. Martin

James C. Martin, (MDiv and DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) founded Bible World Seminars in 1989, author of A Visual Guide to Bible Events, and experienced biblical study travel leader for over 25 years. He currently offers biblical study travel programs on location in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Greece. Over the past twenty-five years, Martin and his wife, Stacey, have been involved in aerial, land, and museum photography and video filming throughout the Middle East and Europe. Their photos appear in works such as the NIV Archaeological Study Bible, Halley's Bible Handbook, and A Visual Guide to Bible Events, among others.

 
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