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 Theme of Ceaseless Hallelujahs

"When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."

Luke 1:41

Gabriel told Zacharias that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth (Luke 1:15), and here we see the fulfillment of that prophesy. Elizabeth said, "As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." (Luke 1:44) This leaping is not the common movement of babies in the womb. It is the same word that is used in Genesis 25:22 for the struggling of Jacob and Esau in Rebecca's womb, and the mountains skipping in Psalms 114:4. Elizabeth and her babe were filled with the Holy Spirit at the greeting of the Messiah's mother.  P.C. Headley writes about  Zacharias and Elizabeth, from Gabriel's proclamation to this time : 

"But the scenes of that home are unrecorded, excepting a visit from her cousin Mary, the mother of Christ; an interview inexpressibly solemn and touching. The Holy Ghost was the companion of Elizabeth, and Mary carried a treasure which was the theme of ceaseless halleluiahs in Heaven. There was no jealousy, no glorying but in the Lord." 

Let's glory only in the Lord Jesus in this Advent season. May His birth be the theme of ceaseless hallelujahs in our hearts.

Gabriel's Words

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Luke 1:30-33

In these few sentences, the angel Gabriel revealed awesome things to Mary:

She, a virgin, would conceive and give birth to a son (no ultrasounds required for this revelation). A fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14): "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (God is with us -- a title).

The boy is to be named Jesus – which means Jehovah-Salvation. Matthew explains why this name is important: “for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

He will be great. A fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6 – "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

He will be called the Son of the Most High - Jesus is God. He is deity. Matthew 3:17 "and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

He will be given the throne of his father David – fulfillment of prophecy 2 Samuel 7:16: "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” Jesus' humanity descended from the line of King David.

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever – He will redeem all who receive Him as Lord and Savior, and He will keep His covenant with His people Israel. Christ reigns in heaven now, and He will reign in heaven and earth  forever and ever. "Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.'” (Revelation 11:15)


Gabriel spoke only a few words, but the truth behind them have had and will have a profound impact on our world.

The First Promise

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel."

Genesis 3:15

The first promise of the Messiah is found in these words of God to Satan in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had succumbed to the enemy's temptation and sin had entered the world, but a day would come when a descendant of Eve's would defeat the enemy. This descendent is Jesus. "It is a remarkable verse in that it refers to the seed of the woman, not the man. Elsewhere in the Bible descent is determined through the male. But here it is the seed of the woman, not the man, who will bruise Satan’s head. It is a prophecy, veiled at the time, but evident now, of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ." -- Pastor Steven J. Cole

The Great Reconciler

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest; And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Luke 2:9-14

The birth of Jesus Christ is "good news of great joy. . .for all the people".  The Messiah is born to deliver His people from the oppression of sin.  But He is not just the Savior of Israel. He is the Savior of all mankind. There is no one who is outside of His grace. There has never been One like Jesus, nor will there ever be again. He is unique. The only Son of God, born to the glory of the Father, yet existing eternally. The Alpha and the Omega. He left His heavenly home and took on flesh to carry out the plan of redemption, reconciling men to God through His shed blood. 

The Humble King

"While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Luke 2:6-7

The Prince of Peace could have been born in a palace.  Instead, He was born in a common stable. The King of Kings could have been placed in a fine cradle, but He was laid in a feed container for cattle. The Lord of Lords could have been dressed in fine attire, yet strips of cloths were all Mary had to wrap Him in. He came to our world the first time in the humblest of circumstances, but when He appears the second time He will come with great power. Revelation 19:11-12 proclaims  "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself."