Bethlehem, a small town a few miles southwest of Jerusalem, had seen busier times before the birth of Jesus occurred. Because history describes it as an ancient caravanning route, quite a mix of cultures could probably be found there at any given time.
In Old Testament times, it became the burial place for Jacob’s favored wife Rachel, and the living place for Naomi and Ruth, and later King David. Many years passed, and due to Caesar Augustus’ decree that everyone must return to their own country to be registered in a census, Joseph, a descendant of David, had to make the trip to Bethlehem.
Along with his very pregnant wife, he looked for lodging, and found it in a stable. It was there when Old Testament prophesies came true, and the little village of Bethlehem became the backdrop of the greatest Story ever told on that very first Christmas night. (Micah 5:2-5)
Bethlehem, which literally means “house of bread,” became the human birthplace for the One who offers us the Bread of Life and invites us to come to Him for fulfillment. And because all of the hopes and fears were met there, we don’t have to carry them ourselves any more. We can rest knowing that Jesus, the One who came and made something beautiful out of an “ordinary” night in this little “ordinary” town, is still in the business of making beautiful things out of the ordinary.
There is really no such thing as an ordinary Christmas… because the author of Christmas is far from ordinary, and He looks at our ordinary and ultimately sees a masterpiece.
