O Little Town on Bethlehem

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Micah 5:2

The Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, as prophesied by Micah. If Caesar had not decreed that all citizens must register in their place of birth, Joseph and Mary would not have had a reason to leave Nazareth, and Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem. In which case, Micah's prophecy would not have been fulfilled. God used the Roman Caesar to orchestrate the birth of His Son Jesus in Bethlehem. From the time of the prophet Micah up through the present time, Bethlehem is credited as the birthplace of only one person widely known throughout the world. And that person is Jesus Christ.

The Power of One

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child."

Luke 2:1-5

Caesar Augustus has commanded that a census be taken of the Roman Empire for the purpose of taxation. The man who has declared himself the emperor no doubt feels quite powerful to have his decree obeyed by the "inhabited earth" without hesitation. But the real power lies in the hands of God Almighty. Joseph and Mary must be in Bethlehem when Jesus is born. This is necessary  to fulfill the prophesy (Micah 5:2) that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. God uses Caesar Augustus to accomplish His purpose. Since Joseph is of the line of David, he is obligated to go to Bethlehem -- an 80 mile journey -- to register. He takes Mary, soon to give birth, with him. The Savior of the world is about to be born in the little town of Bethlehem. God's promise of a Savior will be fulfilled. Prophesy will be fulfilled. All through the Power of One.

The Eternal One

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

         Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

         From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel 

         His goings forth are from long ago,

         From the days of eternity." 

Micah 5:2

Micah the Prophet, in about 700 BC, prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem fulfilled this prophecy, but Jesus did not begin there. He has always existed as the Second Person of the Trinity. "His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." Jesus Christ, The Eternal One. Fully God and fully man. Rejoice in this glorious mystery!