Advent Day 4: "House Of Bread"

"I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen — that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike."

- The Apostle Paul



Prophetic Promise: Micah 5:2-5a

Prophecy's Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1-6

Beit lechem - these are the Hebrew words that mean "House of bread" and are the same words that we translate to the name Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small, insignificant town situated on a hill about five miles from Jerusalem. The area around Bethlehem was ideal for agriculture - indeed the primary industries in Bethlehem were farming and shepherding.

Yes, Bethlehem was a small and insignificant town at the time of Augustus Caesar's census, but it had a rich history. Many significant events in the history of God's people had taken place in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the birthplace of Rachael's last child, Benjamin, and the place that she died. It had been the home of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi. It was the birthplace of David, Israel's great king.

In the intervening years, Bethlehem's importance waned - much like that of our hometown, Salisbury, but something was coming that would cement its significance as one of the most important cities of all; for a prophecy had been made about Bethlehem long ago by the prophet Micah:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you,
one whose origins are from the distant past.
The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
And he will be the source of peace.

The Messiah was going to be born there! Ephrathah - an ancient name for Bethlehem that means "fruitfulness" - was going to be the birth place of the one who would one day stand and say, "I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world....I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:32-33, 35) He is the same one who would tell the people,

"I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:1-5

Truly, Bethlehem was the true house of bread - a home of great fruitfulness.

I cannot help but wonder if any besides Mary and Joseph were contemplating that wonderful promise to the little town of Bethlehem in the midst of the bustle and chaos that likely existed in the midst of this decreed census. I wonder if Mary and Joseph's relatives suspected that the baby born in their home and laid in their manger was the Christ, the promised Messiah.

Regardless of whether anyone was aware of the significance of that birth or not it happened just as the prophet had foretold:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:1-6

Right under everyone's nose the King of kings was born in a little, insignificant home in a little, insignificant town - or was it? For it was the town of his great ancestor, David; the town whose very names attested to its destiny. If you are discouraged because you have an unimportant seeming role or live in an insignificant town or belong to a small church, take heart! God specializes in drawing the momentous from the midst of the lowly.

Questions and thoughts to discuss with your family:

1) Do you know what your name means? HERE is a link that you can use to find out. How did your parents pick your name? Are you anything like the meaning of your name?

2) Have you ever been the smallest one in a group? Have you ever felt unimportant or overlooked?

3) Who is your oldest living relative? Are any of your ancestors famous? Are there any pastors in your family tree? Any heroes? Any godly forebears?

4) What is the significance of the meaning of the names Bethlehem and Ephrathah? How do they point to Bethlehem's true destiny?

5) Bethlehem was a sheep herding and and agricultural town. What is the significance of these occupations in Micah's prophecy? Do you think that this was by accident?

6) King David had not had a descendant on the throne in Judah since the time of the exile. Why do you think that God chose David's birthplace for Jesus to be born?

7) As we have discussed, the names of Bethlehem mean "bread" and "fruitfulness." Can you name something that we do in church that involves "bread" and "fruit?" What does this sacrament represent?