Search results
Mar 23, 2024 · In the Bible, Jesus’ birthplace is identified as Bethlehem. This scene from the Arena (Scrovegni) Chapel in Padua by the Italian artist Giotto shows Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the Bethlehem stable. The three wise men, along with their caravan, and angels gather around the child.
Bethlehem, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, stands as a beacon of religious and historical significance. Nestled in the Judean hills, this ancient town attracts millions, captivated by its profound spiritual legacy.
- Where Was Jesus Born and Why?
- 7 Things to Know About Bethlehem, Where Jesus Was Born
- Why Is Bethlehem Still Relevant?
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:4-20). But how did Mary and Joseph find themselves so far from their hometown of Nazareth at a time so close to Mary’s delivery? The explanation begins with Caesar Augustus, the Emperor of Rome, who ruled from 27 BC-14 AD. Historians have branded Caesar...
1. Bethlehem means house of bread
Bethlehem is located in the hill country right outside of Jerusalem. A mild climate and plentiful rainfall, ensure that the town’s fields, orchards, and vineyards thrive into consistently bountiful harvests. The fertile land is probably why the area was first called Bethlehem or Beit Lehem, which means, “house of bread.” In His divine sovereignty, God would later appoint this town as the birthplace of His Son who would declare, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry...
2. Bethlehem was considered a tiny, insignificant town
Instead of choosing the holy city of Jerusalem as Jesus, the King of Kings, birthplace, God selected a town so small that it wasn’t even listed in the registry of towns in Joshua 15 or Nehemiah 11. Not only was this unusual act the fulfillment of messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:6), but the Savior’s humble birthplace demonstrates God’s greatness. As John Piperexplains, “God chose something small, quiet, out of the way, and did something there that changes the course of history and ete...
3. Scripture foretold the Messiah’s Birth in Bethlehem
700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah prophesied that Bethlehem would be the Messiah’s birthplace. “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) God used the Roman Empire’s greedy taxation practices to draw Mary and Joseph to the appointed place of Christ’s birth at the appointed time.
Bethlehem is the home to over 27,000 residents today. Those who live in Bethlehem are considered citizens of Palestine. Two million tourists provide 65% of the town’s wealth. Christians from all over the world travel to Bethlehem to see and experience the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Church of the Nativity, built around AD 327, still stands in t...
Of all the ancient cities in the world, why did God choose Bethlehem for Christ’s birth? Let's look at the rich significance and meaning behind the location chosen for the birth of Jesus.
Dec 22, 2020 · Bethlehem gains its notoriety as the birthplace of Jesus (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:1-7); however, by the time of Jesus’ birth, the village already had quite a history. Bethlehem first appears in the Amarna Letters (14th century B.C.) as a Canaanite town.
Dec 21, 2022 · It is against this backdrop that Matthew presents Jesus, rather than Herod, as Judea’s legitimate king, sent by God through the lineage of David (Matthew 1:1–17) and born in Bethlehem — the Old Testament home of David prophesied to also be the birthplace of the future Davidic messiah (see Micah 5:2; cf. Matthew 2:5–6).
While there has been a lot of scholarly discussion about whether or not he was actually born in Bethlehem,a both places are useful for teaching about the historical Jesus—regardless of any perceived conflict—and inspire us to take a deeper look at how Jesus was influenced by his environment.
