O little town of Bethlehem

"Bethlehem - just a little town, or village in Israel, perhaps we might call it "a little red dot" five miles south of Jerusalem. Come Christmas time, we sing again and again this beautiful carol of Bethlehem which literally means "House of Bread" There in this little town was born our Saviour who made the claim, "I am the Bread of Life."

Jacob's favourite wife, Rachel died at childbirth and was buried just outside Bethlehem. She named him Benoni meaning "son of many sorrows" but Jacob changed it to "Benjamin" meaning,"at my right hand." The "Man of Sorrows" died on the cross, rose again from the dead and now "sits at the right hand of God."

Ruth the Moabitess an ancestor of Jesus - she found her redemption from pain of the past at Bethlehem. She found grace, mercy, love, acceptance and hope at this little town of Bethlehem.

David "the man after God's own heart" was from Bethlehem. And the Saviour was from David's line.

Contrast the littleness of Bethlehem, like "a little red dot" with the greatness of the ruler who would come out of this place. Strange that God would choose Bethlehem as the birthplace for His Son Jesus Christ.

O little town of Bethlehem

In 1 Corinthians 1, verse 27, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen."