Where Were You Born?

Most of you were probably born in a hospital. A few might have been born at home. Maybe one of you was born roadside in the backseat of a car. Probably none of you was born in an animal's food trough. But that's where the Son of God first rested His head on our earth.

As we talked about this last night at our weekly Bible study, I was moved by the brilliance of God's plan. Consider this:

• Mary and Joseph had to travel roughly 100 miles to reach Bethlehem from Nazareth. It was at least a 3 day journey. Had not Caesar called for a census, they most likely wouldn't have traveled to Bethlehem thus leaving the prophecy in Micah 5:2-5 unfulfilled.


• The Hebrew name Bethlehem literally means "House of Bread ." Jesus, who said of himself, "I am the Bread of Life," (John 6:48-51) is born in Bethlehem--the House of Bread.


• Because of the census, the inn of Bethlehem was full. Mary found herself giving birth to the Son of God in a barn, surrounded by animals many of which were destined to become sacrifices for the sins of the people or to provide food. Jesus, the final sacrifice for human sinfulness, and the Bread of Life itself, entered the world amongst the very animals which had served in His place for so long!

If you haven't ever done so, I'd encourage you to spend some time this year really digging into the accounts of the birth of Jesus. Centuries of God's history converged on that little town in Judea in a way that's beyond imagination. There's so much there that will build your faith in God's intervention through Jesus Christ on our behalf. You won't be disappointed.