THIS beautiful picture gives us a view of Bethlehem a city of Judah, also called Bethlehem Judah (Jude 17:7-9.) It is first mentioned in connection with the death and burial of Rachel in Gen. 35:1919And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. (Genesis 35:19). There are interesting things which we might write in connection with it and the history of. Ruth but we will not at this time. David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so apparently it was the place of David’s birth and this accounts for it being called the city of David in Luke 2:22(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) (Luke 2:2). It was also the birthplace of the Lord Jesus, though it was spoken of as “little, among the thousands of Judah,” but that only reminds us of the lowly character of the Lord. His whole path was marked with lowliness. He sought not for glory, for He came into this world to die for poor sinners. But God has now highly exalted Him.
Many think a great deal of Bethlehem because it was the birth place of the Lord Jesus, but what God would have us to be occupied with is His death. Some say, if Jesus had not been born, we would never have been saved, but the truth is, if Jesus had not died, we could never have been saved. It is His death that met the claims of God against our sins, for the wages of sin is death. He had no sins of His own to die for, but He died for the sins of those who would believe on Him. Do you believe He died for you? If you do, you are saved, for it is His death that earned salvation for you, and Your believing it makes it yours.
While we may then look at a picture of the birth place of the Lord Jesus with interest, what will concern us the most is His death.
ML 09/02/1906