Bethlehem

"So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel."

Genesis 35:15

So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), and Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day.

Genesis 35:19-20

And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, "The Lord be with you!" And they answered, "The Lord bless you."

Ruth 2:4

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Luke 2:4

Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" John 7:42

What separates the Judea-Christian religion from the mysticism of so many other of the world's religions is its historical claims of real people who lived in history. I find it fascinating that the story of the Bible is intertwined with geography and the stories of people who lived during the times of the rise and fall of historical nations. There are certain locations that seemed especially important to the Bible story. One of those places is Bethlehem.

Located about 6 miles south of Jerusalem, the modern day Bethlehem has a population of only about 30,000 people. And, to this day, it is one of the locations of the highest number of Palestinians who are of the Christian faith. The first time it is mentioned in the book of Genesis, it is the location where God delivers Jacob and reveals to him that his name is to be henceforth forever changed. He is no longer "Jacob" but "Israel" of whom God promises to make a king of his descendants. A little later his wife, Rachel, dies in childbirth there while delivering her son Benjamin. Jacob marks the spot with a pillar. Interestingly, the location is there today. See: Rachel's tomb.

Later, in the book of Ruth we discover that Bethlehem is the hometown of Boaz, who marries Ruth, a Moabitess, who becomes the linage of the Israel's second King, David. The book of Ruth is a powerful story about how a kinsmen-redeemer through his love reconciles a foreigner into the community of faith. The messianic prophesy that Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of the Messiah made by the prophet Micah was so well known in the days of King Herod that the Magi were instructed to go there by the priests of Herod's court. And, the fact that Joseph had to travel for the census to Bethlehem to his father's hometown made this one spot on the planet the location of where God entered the world in human form.

The Christmas story is a world phenomenon. It is extremely unusual, highly remarkable and extraordinary. Even though there are those who would eliminate any thought of God in the world, the Christmas story refuses to be snuffed out from the firesides of the faithful to the halls of commerce. How is it that the story of an obscure Jewish boy, born in a manger twenty centuries ago, who only lived to the age of 33 and who was in the public eye for a mere 3 years of his life before being executed as a criminal on a Roman cross in the backwater of a Roman province, becomes the person by whom we measure the length of human history? He never wrote a book, and he only left eleven confused men to tell his story. How is it that his teachings have become the standard of the world's morality that has led to the ennobling factor of human beings....the abolishment of slavery...the acceptance of the emancipation of women...and the only real power for good in the world ever since his death?

Trying to explain this phenomenon by human reason leaves the historian, as well as the philosopher and scientists at a loss. No other human being in the history of the world has ever had the kind of impact upon humanity as the claim of Jesus as Messiah. The Christmas story defies human reason and grips society with a power of its claim that God came down from heaven and entered the world in human form so that he could reconcile and save humankind through faith. The signs of the revelation at Bethel are no mere coincident. It was part of a grand design from the very beginning. The paradox of how God, who is rich in mercy, would save us all through the birth of his son is the greatest testimony of all time. The angels proclaimed it at Bethlehem. Yet, his son entered the world when there was no room for him in the inn. He was born on a cold night to a homeless teenage mother and an earthly father in a stable amidst the steaming dung of animals. A manger was his crib. Even the gifts brought by the Magi, the non-Jewish wise me from afar, of gold, incense and myrrh were symbolic of gifts given to the families of the deceased.

Bethlehem is a crossroads. It is the place of great joy and a place of lament. The prophet Jeremiah was quoted by Matthew as a fulfillment of his prophecy in Chapter 31 verse 15: Thus says the LORD, "A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more."

The City of God

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11: 13-16.

As one listens to the news and looks about this world, we are reminded daily that we live in a fallen world where the systems of law and order are broken down by sin and evil. We live each day in the midst of a cosmic battle that rages unseen between the forces of good and evil. Every human being gets to decide on a daily basis whether he or she will choose between the ways of the Lord or the pursuit of one's own selfish desires to fulfill one's lust of self. For those who choose the path of the narrow way, we are often left to feel like strangers and exiles on this planet. What each of us wants more than anything else is to find a homeland. A place of peace and sanctuary from the assaults upon one's life and security. A refuge from death and a purpose for living.

There is Good News! The place for which we long and for which we were made actually exists! But, it is not of this earth. Only by faith in the one who made us and created us may we come to understand that there exists a City which is the fulfillment of every desire of one's heart. When we are beaten up, knocked down and standing in the shadow of the valley of death, there is still this hope that transcends human understanding. It is a hope that there is a place that we can call home for all eternity. It is the City of God.

Giving Thanks

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalms 30: 3-4

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I Thessalonians 5:18

As we enter into our annual season of Thanksgiving it is so easy to focus on all the fun, frivolity and trimmings of the turkey season. But, giving thanks is an attitude. Learning to live one's life by being able to give thanks in all circumstances is one of the secrets of life. There are times when life comes crashing in on each of us. But our thanksgiving in this life is not situational based upon whatever circumstances one finds himself or herself in at the moment. Even in the darkest part of the journey, if one chooses to look with the eye of faith there are reasons to celebrate and to give thanks. Life, of any kind, is one of the reasons to give thanks. It is not about us. It is about a God who is holy and righteous. It is because of him we can give thanks in Christ Jesus in all circumstances.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you in this season of thanksgiving.

Scripture

"When you come, bring the coat that I left with Carpus at Tro'as,

also the books, and above all the parchments."

2 Timothy 4:13

Paul's words to Timothy not to forget the parchments resonate with me. Why is it that those who preach and teach are so devoted to the written word? Perhaps it is because the divine Creator spoke the world into existence by the "logos" (the "word"). In fact the proclamation of John is that this creative force, the word of God, became flesh in the form of Jesus Christ. Yet, God himself did not write a book about himself. Instead he entrusted his message to men and women to testify as to His wishes and desires. The Bible's multiple authors testify to the same thing. They were witnesses to the account of God's interaction in human history.

I suspect that the apostle Paul would be shocked today that his personal notes and letters are the basis of our Scripture. And, yet, how do we determine what is true today? Isn't it by the testimony of eye witnesses to the event that is in question? I believe that the plan of God is revealed in his Word. Studying and reading it are ways that one can gain insight and understanding. Ultimately, God puts his seal upon a believer's heart by the power of his Holy Spirit. But, seeing the Word in action as revealed by others is one way that we can grow spiritually. History is a flashlight that can give one insight as to how one arrived at where they are today.

There is No Other

Sometimes it is simply best to let the Bible speak in its simplest terms. The one consistency of the revelation of the Bible is that God is one God. For example,

Deuteronomy 4:35 - To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

Deuteronomy 4:39 - know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

1 Kings 8:60 - that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.

Isaiah 45:5 - I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me,

Isaiah 45:6 - that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:14 - Thus says the LORD: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabe'ans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying: 'God is with you only, and there is no other, no god besides him.'"

Isaiah 45:18 - For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Every one of these scriptures stands for the proposition that there is only one God. The great paradox in Christianity is the trinity. How could God be one and be Spirit and flesh at the same time. Yet even the New Testament makes the statement of the gospel that the claims of Jesus are exclusive to him:
Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

We cannot explain it from a human perspective. It is the reason that faith is the avenue of understanding through a personal relationship with a living God. We believe that God rewards those who seek him. His declaration that there is no other is not a threat; but, a simple statement of fact. We must trust Him on this one and learn that what the Lord wants more than anything is a relationship that allows us to follow him as Lord and Savior. He sent his son to give us that chance. We believe that his creation is not chaos; but, that there is order and meaning in life.

Facing the Tests of Faith in LIfe

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnez'zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
Daniel 3: 16-18

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was one that I learned at the youngest of ages. God delivered his servants from the fiery furnace in a miraculous manner. But, the Bible also tells us that sometimes deliverance comes in the form of death. That is what happened to John the Baptist. Sometimes God's plan brings glory to Himself though our deliverance. And, sometimes He does the same through martyrdom.

In Matthew 11 we read the John has been sitting in a dark prison during the second year of Jesus' ministry. I can picture John scratching his head and thinking to himself, "Wait a minute. I thought I was the forerunner of the Messiah?" So he sends a message to Jesus asking, "Are You the Coming One; or, do we look for another?" (Luke 7:19) From John's perspective, the Messiah was going to set up the Davidic kingdom and throw those pesky Romans out of Israel. Yet, here John sat, in the dark, in prison, waiting. Soon thereafter, Herod ordered John' s death by having his head cut off. Anyone want to volunteer to be a forerunner? And yet, every Christian who confesses that Jesus is Lord and who is born again of water and of spirit into the kingdom of God is given the job of a forerunner.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego emerged out of the flame without a trace of the fire and the smoke. They were unscathed by their experience. John was not so fortunate. Yet, ultimately they, like we, all end up in the same place. The question is not how long we live; but, how we live life while we are here. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us whether it is out of the fiery furnace or from the grave. We simply need to live life with the confidence of a faith in a God that conquers all of our trials...even the trial of death.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
James 1: 22-24

Friday night I was sitting in the audience at the Christian Family Services, Inc Annual Dinner listening to Dr. Jerry Jones address. One of the points he made really struck a chord inside of me. He pointed to Matthew 25 and the judgment scene. The question being asked by Jesus was why didn't you take care of me?

And the answer given was:
"'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'

Then note the answer of Jesus:

'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Judgment was based upon what they did NOT DO. It had nothing to do with what they believed. James got it right as set forth above. If we are in the battle we have be "doers" of the Word. Someone can memorize the scripture but if they don't put it into practice, it is meaningless. While no one can earn their way into heaven by good works, faith without works is dead. The focus of the gospel is upon those who are in need. It really is good news to those who are hungry, thirsty, alone, naked, sick or in prison.