Bethlehem was a small, insignificant town outside of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where the temple of God was built. Bethlehem was only known as the place where Jewish people would stop on their way to the temple to purchase their lambs to be sacrificed at the temple. Before David was king, he raised sheep in the same Bethlehem pastures that were likely home to the shepherds from Luke 2. The reason Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem was that they were required to pay taxes in their ancestral hometown and Joseph was a descendant of King David. Bethlehem was a little town. The prophet Micah predicted that Jesus would be born in this little town in Micah 5:2.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
The book of John gives us some insight as to why this little insignificant town was selected as the birthplace of Jesus. John 1:29 says,
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus was born to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. After Jesus, the blood of animals would no longer be required to atone for sins. How appropriate that the lamb of God be born in the little town of holy pastures that raised sacrificial lambs.
Today, Bethlehem is part of the Palestinian land in Israel. Most of the people who live in Bethlehem are Muslim and do not worship the baby that was born in their little town. The streets are dark because Jesus has been forgotten. How many of our towns are the same? What if Bethlehem, New Cumberland, Etters, Lewisberry, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, and every other town would realize the truth of these lyrics:
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight
As you listen to O Little Town of Bethlehem, pray for the people who call Bethlehem home today. Pray for every dark street, including the ones we call home. Sing the words and pray:
O come to us; abide with us; our Lord, Emmanuel.