Bethlehem – the House of Bread
About eight kilometers south of Jerusalem in Judea is a village referred to in the Scriptures as Bethlehem-Ephrathah[1]. In the Hebrew Bible it is mentioned with significance from the prophet Micah as he writes:
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, and from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”[2]
This verse recorded in the Hebrew Bible was clearly understood by the Jewish disciples of Jesus, His first followers, and by the religious leaders of that time, as a direct reference to the Messiah. Micah not only foretells the place of the Messiah’s birth, but also the miraculous nature of His birth.
In the over 2,000 years since this event, the words of the prophets, the place, and the person born in Bethlehem have been challenged. Today, Bethlehem is located in what is known as Palestinian Authority administered territory. Yeshua (Jesus’ Hebrew name) has even been deemed by some a “Palestinian refugee,”[3] though history and the Bible refute such a claim.
The miraculous conception by a virgin[4] prophesied by Isaiah has been disputed. Detractors accuse Christian theologians and translators of misinterpreting the words and meaning in Isaiah and Micah to fit their religious narrative. Does any of this resemble the divinely appointed birth, as foretold by Jewish prophets, that would usher in the Messiah, the One whom would embody references reserved for God alone?[5]
The birth of the Jewish Messiah, who would come as a redeemer for both Israel and the nations, easily gets lost in all the distortions of Scripture plus the commercialism and partying around Christmas. But Bethlehem is commemorated, especially at Christmas, as believers celebrate the One born in that otherwise obscure village.
Despite this, Bethlehem itself points to the Savior in many wonderful ways. This is the place where Boaz lived; as the kinsman redeemer, he took the Moabite woman Ruth for his wife.[6] Boaz was a figure foreshadowing One who would also come from Bethlehem to redeem the Gentiles as well as the Jewish people.[7]
Bethlehem is where David, a descendant of Boaz, was born and tended sheep as a youth. Ten centuries later, on the night in which Mary birthed Jesus, this was the place where shepherds still tended their flocks., Indeed, flocks from which some of the lambs destined for Temple sacrifices were selected. How fitting that the person identified as the Lamb of God[8] and son of David[9] would arise from this place.
“Bethlehem” derives from the Hebrew Beit-lechem, or “the house of bread.”[10] Jesus called himself the “Bread of Life”[11] because, He was the true bread from heaven.[12] Unlike the manna in the desert, which was a daily provision, Jesus would provide what was truly needed daily and for all eternity.
Yes, Bethlehem, not Jerusalem, was chosen by God to tell us the story of redemption. The shepherd David’s greater son, Jesus, would be the good shepherd[13] who lays down His life for His sheep by becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Yeshua, whose name means “salvation,” would be “Immanuel”[14] – “God with us.”
Bethlehem has changed in many ways over the last 2,000 years, and the assault against the truth of the One born in Bethlehem still rages on. But the Scriptures remain unchanged. The salvation the Messiah would bring remains the same source for peace heralded by angels on that special night in the skies over Bethlehem. Peace on earth is only possible when the inhabitants first have peace with God.[15]
More than 30 years after His birth, Jesus was in Jerusalem. He posed a question to some religious leaders:[16]
“What do you think about the [Messiah]? Whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, [17]‘The LORD said to my LORD, sit at My right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet’? Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”
Jesus’ question regarding the identity of the Messianic Son of David is still the most important question today. If this man, born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago, is the One spoken of in Psalm 110, then what the angel told the shepherds in the field near Bethlehem is true:
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is [Messiah] the Lord.”[18]
This makes Bethlehem a big deal: not just the place, but the person! Isn’t it time you receive the bread of life[19] that will satisfy your soul for eternity? Is Bethlehem only a religious fairy tale to you? If so, we encourage you to contact us so we can speak to you about the Messianic Ruler of whom Micah wrote.
Written by Jeff, LIFE staff
1. What new fact did you learn about Bethlehem today? And what does it mean to you?
2. Have you received the “Bread of Life” that satisfies your soul?
Endnotes:
[1] Genesis 35:19; 48:7; Matthew 2:1; John 7:40-42. [Scripture quotations from New American Standard Bible, copyright 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
[2] Micah 5:2.
[3] https://juicyecumenism.com/2015/01/28/jesus-palestinian-false-narrative/.
[4] Isaiah 7:14.
[5] In addition to "child” and “son,” which could describe any male human, descriptors of Messiah in Isaiah 9:6-7 include ”wonderful counselor,” “mighty God,” ”everlasting father” (or “father of eternity”), and “prince of peace.”
[6] Ruth 4:1-18.
[7] Isaiah 49:1-10.
[8] John 1:29; 1:36; Genesis 22:7-8; Exodus 12:3-13; Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter1:19.
[9] Matthew 1:1-6.
[10] “Bethlehem” comes from two Hebrew words: בֵּ֥ית (beit, meaning house) and לָֽחֶם (lechem, meaning bread), thus “House of Bread.”
[11] John 6:35.
[12] John 6:32.
[13] John 10:11.
[14] God with us.
[15] Isaiah 27:5; Romans 5:1-11.
[16] Matthew 22:42-45 (“Messiah” carries the equivalent meaning of “Christ”.)
[17] Psalm 110:1.
[18] Luke 2:10-11.
[19] John 6:33-40.