Matthew 2:1-6

 

(Matthew 2:1-6)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2:1-6)

Jesus came down to the earth according to the prophecy of the Old Testament『 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 』(Micah 5:2)

Why did God prepare Jesus to be born in Bethlehem? Bethlehem is a compound word of two words. 『Bet』 means the house, and “Lehem” means the bread. Bethlehem means "House of Bread". Because Jesus is the bread of life that God gave to give repentant eternal life.『 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 』(John 6:51)
As a pregnant woman, Maria went to Bethlehem, her husband's hometown, to register taxes. However, they couldn't find a place to stay and eventually stayed in a stable. Jesus was not welcomed by people and was born in a stable.

Then the angels appeared to the shepherds in the area, saying, "The baby lying in the manger will be the savior, the sign of the Messiah," and the shepherds really see Jesus lying in the manger. The manger is the beast's feeder. Jesus represents the humble figure who came to the lowest. God has come to this earth in the form of the world's smallest and shabby body. It was Jesus who even gave up his life for repentant sinners.

Sinners are worse than beasts. The prophet Isaiah said, "The cow also knows his master, and the donkey knows his master." The sinner (Israel) did not have the ability to recognize the God who made him. Rather, they are antagonists trying to kill Jesus. Jesus said, "Everyone who does not abide by my words is a child of Satan." Jesus came to the earth to give life to repentant sinners and gave life from the cross. This is because sinners were "spirits of angels who did not keep their position in the kingdom of God" in the flesh. Originally, Christ and the Spirit were one, so Christ came to save them.

Jesus came to this earth to be the bread of life that gives eternal life. When Jesus made a miracle with two fish and five loaves, people flocked to make him king, but Jesus explained to them the gospel of eternal life, saying, "I am the bread of eternal life, and you must eat my flesh and drink blood." But not only those who followed Jesus, but also many disciples left Jesus.『 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him..』(John 6:66) But Jesus asked the remaining disciples, "Do you want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68) However, those who follow Jesus to obtain the bread of eternal life are followers of Jesus even if they lose everything in the world. The way to follow Jesus is those who deny themselves and carry their crosses.

Regarding the time of Jesus' birth, Christmas is celebrated at the end of the year, but there are many claims that it was Sukkot. Because at that time, the holiday meant Sukkot. This corresponds to the fall of the year. So a lot of people gathered, and they couldn't decide on the accommodation. Jesus was born on the feast of tabernacles, and when he returns, he will come to the Mount of Olives on the feast of tabernacles. God is working through the feast of Israel.

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