Bethlehem

I’m a small town kind of guy. I’ve only ever lived in small towns. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like visiting the big city, but to me there is something very romantic and warm about small towns. I like being able to get where I want to go relatively quickly. I like familiarity of not only places but people. I may not know you, but I’ve seen you before. I like the readily available solitude and quiet. While I do enjoy the amenities that have come with the growth of Georgetown I do somewhat long for the community of 8,500 I grew up in.

But small towns also come with their issues. Everyone knows your business and it doesn’t take long for them to know it. There is a lack of legitimacy. People from the big city and the media have a tendency to portray small town folks as ignorant and simple minded. So, small town people’s opinions don’t really count. It’s not a new thing. It’s been that way for quite a while. Maybe it’s always been that way. Because of the lack of opportunity the choices for jobs and even restaurants are few.

The a lack of opportunity and legitimacy can lead to a longing for bigger and better things. Big cities bring with them the opportunity for fame and fortune. In order to “be” somebody we need to go to the cultural epicenters: LA, Paris, London, Nashville and of course who could forget New York City. Most of us can probably sing along with Frank Sinatra,

If I can make it there

I'll make it anywhere

It's up to you

New York, New York

It would seem to the world that in order to become someone legitimate you need to make a name for yourself, or do you?

You see Jesus was a small town guy too. He’s born in a small town (Bethlehem). He grows up in a small town (Nazareth) and he ministers primarily in the small towns surrounding the Sea of Galilee. He even sounds like he’s from a small town. It’s one reason why the religious bigwigs have a hard time believing that Jesus is the Messiah. Even disciples had a hard time with it. In the first chapter of John when Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael responds, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

As we read some of the Christmas story this morning let’s ask ourselves, “Why Bethlehem? Why not Jerusalem? Why not Ephesus? Why not Rome?

English Standard Version Chapter 5

2  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of his brothers shall return

to the people of Israel.

4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth.

5 And he shall be their peace.

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Let me point out a couple of things that may conflict with something you have always believed about the Christmas story.

1. Mary and Joseph didn’t show up in Bethlehem the day before Jesus was born. They were likely there a while.

2. There is no mention of an inn-keeper. In fact, while the Greek is interpreted here as inn it is probably referring to a guest room in a house. Inns would have been in communities along major trade routes. Bethlehem was not one of those cities.

3. We need to also take into account that Joseph isn’t the only person in his family that has made the journey to Bethlehem. It’s like a family reunion in Bethlehem. So, the older folks got first dibs on the guest quarters. The young couple got to sleep in the stable, which is traditionally thought to be a cave.

While Luke gives us the practical reason for Bethlehem being the birthplace Matthew gives us the divine reason as he quotes the prophet Micah from .

  2  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

     who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

     from you shall come forth for me

     one who is to be ruler in Israel,

     whose coming forth is from of old,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

     from ancient days.

     3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time

     when she who is in labor has given birth;

     then the rest of his brothers shall return

     to the people of Israel.

     4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

     in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

     And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

     to the ends of the earth.

     5 And he shall be their peace.`

For Matthew, Bethlehem is historically important. For the Messiah would not only be born in the line of King David, but would also actually be born in the same town.

You would think that maybe being the birthplace of the greatest King in all of Israel’s history would have provided Bethlehem with some respect, but from what we know historically it was never more than a community of shepherds and sheep. In fact, far more sheep than people.

What are the lessons from Bethlehem?

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

Matthew 2:5

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

Matthew 2:6

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Bethlehem now has a significance that it could not have had without Jesus. Contrast Bethlehem with Jerusalem. Jerusalem the city that David built. Jerusalem the temple city. The temple that within it contained the very presence of God. When Satan tempts Jesus he takes him to the top of the temple and tempts him to perform a dramatic act that would prove his significance. If God would show up anywhere it would be in Jerusalem, in the temple, in the Holy of Holies...not in Bethlehem.

But God doesn’t need to gain an identity. He doesn’t need to pursue significance. Instead, in Bethlehem, God is already giving insignificant things significance. This would be one of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry on this earth and remains one of the hallmarks of the Church.

Lesson 1

The world wants us to seek legitimacy. God wants to make us legitimate.

How many of you know the rest of the song New York, New York?

Just before Sinatra sings if you can make it there you can make it anywhere he sings these words.

I want to wake up in that city

That doesn't sleep

And find I'm king of the hill

Top of the heap

My little town blues

They are melting away

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I gonna make a brand new start of it

In old New York

I’d like to say that it’s just the world that gets all mixed up, but it happens in ministry too. When I meet someone for the first time I am typically asked what I do for a living. Once I answer that I am a preacher at regeneration Church 99.9% of the time I am immediately asked how many people attend. And other pastors are the worst. It happens 100% of the time with them. I’m being sized up. The more people I say attend the more credibility I will have in their eyes. And this happens as a follow up to the follow up, although not as often. When I quote 50 they will ask, “Well are you growing?” And then I humble myself even further and have to admit, actually we have less than when we started.

I was in a board meeting in a church where there was discussion around pulling funding or reducing funding for missionaries because we weren’t getting enough bang for our buck. It seemed that our willingness to financially obligate ourselves to them was tied to the number of converts and the size of their following. In some people’s minds legitimate missionaries are the ones who see results. Needless to say I had a serious problem with that line of thinking.

And just to set the record straight. Our willingness to give to ministry here is going to be based upon obedience and faith not results.

Lesson 2

Size is not God what God wants for us. Obedience is.

Maybe you are struggling with your own significance. You want to have more recognition. You want the promotion. You want the life of the rich and famous. You want more Instagram likes and your Twitter account verified. To be honest, I kind of want those things too sometimes.

But eventually, it’s going to wear you out. It will exhaust you.

The lesson of Bethlehem is we would much better be served by pursuing someone who can give us infinite value.

God’s willingness to be in relationship with you gives you all of the legitimacy and significance you could ever need.

Feel free to visit New York, but stop in Bethlehem along the way.