There is nothing in Gods word that happens by chance. God has a plan for everything. The people involved, the location, and the timing is all things that are of importance for God. The Bible says, in the fullness of time, God sent forth his son. The time was carefully appointed and chosen by God. So were the people involved. Mary had found favor with God and was chosen to carry forth the Messiah. But what about the place of birth, Bethlehem? Why Bethlehem?

First of all, the very name Bethlehem means the House of Bread. Jesus was the Living bread coming down from heaven. It was also the place where Boas became Ruths kinsman redeemer, as an example of Jesus becoming our kinsman redeemer. Here was King David born, and Jesus was to become the son of David. Here Rachel gave birth to Benjamin. She died giving birth, and named him Benoni, meaning the son of pain. But Jakob renamed him to Benjamin, meaning the son of the Right hand. Jesus was first the son of pain on Calvary. Then he resurrected and became the son of the right hand.

But maybe the greatest reason why Jesus was born in Bethlehem was because that’s where the Shepherds were close by. These Shepherds was not just any kind of Shepherds. These were specialized Shepherds whose job was to find the perfect Lamb for the Temple sacrifice. Some historians have said that when a perfect Lamb was born, they put it in Swaddling Clothes to make sure it stayed clean and pure. When God told them to go see this baby, he said this you will have this as a sign. He will be wrapped in Swaddling clothes… It was almost as God sent them to examine and check that this Lamb of God was indeed spotless and perfect and ready to become our sacrifice. Not that there were any doubt, but this was the procedure to be kept. That Lamb needed to be approved by these Shepherds.

How marvelous and mysterious Gods plan is. Pastor Gøran Andreassen

Additional scriptures for further study: Luke 2:1-18;