December 11
On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On their fifth attempt, the plane under the control of Orville, embarked on a 12-second flight.
Rushing to the telegraph office, Wilbur sent this message: WE HAVE FLOWN FOR 12 SECONDS—WE WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!
When their sister, Katherine, received the telegram, so the story goes, she went to the newspaper office, told the editor about her brothers’ new flying machine, and informed him her brothers would be home for Christmas. This was his opportunity to set up an interview. He told her that it was nice, and he would be sure to put something in the paper regarding the boys.
On Dec. 19, the local paper placed the following headline on the sixth page of the paper: “Wright Brothers Home for Christmas.”
The most important story of the year—man’s first flight—and the editor missed it!
But even as exhausted, self-focused, world-mesmerized people rush right past the Lamb of God born in Bethlehem for us, let's not miss this story of a little town with a great privilege:
“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 NIV
Jesus Christ is the promised hope. The most significant person ever, Jesus Christ, came from one of the most insignificant places, Bethlehem.
About six miles south of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judea is Bethlehem, the city where Jesus was born. Bethlehem means “the house of bread.” It was first called Ephrath (“fruitful). It was the burial place of Rachel (Gen 35:16) the home to Ruth and Boaz- “May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem” (Ruth 4:11). In Bethlehem David was anointed king over Israel by the prophet Samuel (1 Sam 16:1-13). Bethlehem became known as the “city of David” (Luke 2:4, 11).
Micah lived in the eighth century BC and ministered in the shadow of the coming Assyrian invasion (721 BC). Micah prophesied that from Bethlehem shall come forth “one who will be ruler over Israel” (Mic 5:2). It connected the promised Messiah with the house and line of David. The most notable characteristic of this Promised One ends the verse: “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This promised Shepherd King came from Bethlehem in time but was beyond time in that he came from eternity!
In the New Testament, King Herod attempted to squelch this threat to his rule (Matt. 2:1-4). Matthew quotes Micah 5:2, “For from [Bethlehem] shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (2:6), alluding to 2 Samuel 5:2, which describes David’s rightful kinship over that of Saul. By implication, Jesus is set over Herod as the true king.
The Gospel of Luke explains that Joseph and Mary journeyed to Bethlehem to register for a census decreed by Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1-5). Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4) and returned later to Nazareth, where he was raised (Matt 2:23; Luke 2:39). After Jesus’ birth, Matthew tells us that “wise men from the east” came to Jerusalem to worship the one born as the king of the Jews (Matt 2:2-11).
The prediction of the location of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) is a clear pointer to the significance of the Messiah’s entry into this world. How will we respond to the news of Jesus’ birth? Too exhausted? Too self-focused or mesmerized by the world? Don’t overlook the obvious. Jesus is the promised Davidic king AND the promised hope of blessing to all the nations.
Let’s not miss the most significant person in history.
JOIN US FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SERIES THROUGHOUT DECEMBER AS WE DISCOVER GOOD TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY:
December 7: Good Tidings...According to Matthew
December 14: Good Tidings...According to Luke
December 21: Good Tidings...According to John
Join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (December 24) at 6:00 pm.
The Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 am. Join us!