For a long time, I鈥檇 assumed that Bethlehem was a bustling, prosperous city; the key word being, 鈥渁ssumed鈥�. Then years ago, I discovered that wasn鈥檛 always the case but I didn鈥檛 pursue the matter any farther. When I decided to use the most famous Christmas hymn, 鈥淥 little town of Bethlehem鈥� as a foundation for this week鈥檚 article I wanted to gather a few verifiable facts about this iconic place.
First of all, in contrast to its current population of nearly 30,000 people, at the time of Jesus鈥� birth, on-line sources put its population at between 300 and 1,000 inhabitants. 聽()
The year of Christ鈥檚 birth Caesar Augustus decreed that inhabitants of the Roman Empire were to travel to Bethlehem to 鈥渂e numbered鈥� for the purpose of implementing better taxation records. They certainly weren鈥檛 alone in travelling to the city for, the Bible says, there was no room for them to stay. 鈥淏ethlehem was filled to overflowing.鈥� They heard that there were caravan stables, created by opening up the side of the rock and situated near the inn. This source says the space had been cleared of animals and cleaned up to make space for lodgers. It was here, in those most humble of circumstances, that Jesus Christ was born.( )
From those thoughts, my mind turned to the realization that He came to die for me! For the world, yes; but, for me? That got me musing on the years I鈥檇 struggled with a sense of non-importance but as this glorious truth hit home some time ago, I鈥檝e realized that 鈥渢he world鈥� is comprised of 鈥渙nes鈥�. That means that you and I are not insignificant but rather the focus of God鈥檚 redemptive love.
鈥溾�o God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of His heaven.鈥�
For God so loved the world, including you and me.
