“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
(Micah 5:2, NKJV)
In this prophecy the prophet Micah declares Bethlehem to be “little among the thousands of Judah.” And so it was – a tiny place with a tiny population, really only known as a place where shepherds watched their sheep. It was the sort of place that you could travel through and barely even notice. It was insignificant and largely forgotten.
But when you come to the beginning of Matthew’s gospel the language changes. He quotes the scripture like this:
“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah”
In Matthew’s version suddenly Bethlehem has acquired significance. Nowadays, as we all know, the town of Bethlehem is one of the most famous and visited places on the earth.
Why? Because of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Bethlehem was nothing. Bethlehem with Jesus is everything.
How true this holds for us.
Without Jesus we were slaves to sin. In Christ we become sons of God.
Without Jesus we were condemned to death and Hell. In Christ we receive forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.
Without Christ we were enemies of God. In Christ we are adopted into the family of God.
Without Christ we were under the dominion of darkness. In Christ we become citizens of the kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus offers you the free gift of eternal life today – a gift paid for through His blood, shed on the cross for you. It is your gift to accept. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
If you would like to know more please get in touch.
Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.
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