This time of year, the little town Bethlehem is a term we often hear in message as well as in song. Two Hebrew words, beth meaning ‘house’ and lehem meaning ‘bread’ comprise the name. In Micah 5:2 there is a prophesy that clearly states that the one to be ruler of Israel would be born in Bethlehem. The Bread of Life born in the house of bread. I find that to be fascinating!
Moreover, think about this. The most powerful ruler on the planet, see Luke 2, had to decide to register the Roman world for a tax at precisely the right time to get Joseph and Mary heading south, and uphill 85 miles, from Nazareth to Bethlehem. I would like to have been a “fly on the wall” at Caesar’s weekly staff meeting when this was being discussed. Perhaps the Treasurer suggested this tax as a means to raise more revenue for roads or more chariots and armor for the army. Or maybe God just put the idea in Caesar’s mind, because God can do such things. After all, this was a real big deal, much bigger than even Caesar, because all of human history was about to be changed forever. But first a very pregnant young Jewish woman, Mary, had to be relocated for divine purposes. Being nine months pregnant, this 4- or 5-day ride on a donkey was surely a challenge.
A similar thought on the subject has to do with another Judean town, Nazareth, which means set apart or anointed. “Jesus of Nazareth” is a familiar phrase to most folks and this is also of profound importance to the Christmas story. You guessed it! Someone also had to name Nazareth to make this all work out so perfectly. I mean, Jesus of Bethlehem just does not have the right ring.
Many scholars agree that the wise men came from Babylon. In Matthew 2 we find them in Jerusalem asking directions of King Herod. Jeru salem (city of peace), wow another name! Herod directs them 6 miles south to Bethlehem as advised by the chief priests. However, as the Magi left, “the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them” and they got their bearings and a divine course correction 80 miles to the north.
So, we know that the Magi came first to Jerusalem. What you may not know is that Nazareth lies at 32 degrees and 54 minutes N latitude and Babylon lies at 32 degrees and 56 minutes N latitude. The two cities are 540 miles apart, however, because they basically lie on the same line of latitude Babylon is on a direct course and precisely east of Nazareth. Remember it was “Star in the East” that got the Maji motivated for the 5-to-6-week road trip to Nazareth. A degree of latitude is about 69 miles, so the Maji had drifted just a little over 1 degree south. However, they kept “looking up”, vs:9, and reacquired their destination. They also were open for divine guidance and received vital information in a dream, vs:12. We can learn important spiritual principles from the Maji, these “wise men”.
In Matthew 2:11 the Magi find “the house”, not the stable, where the family was living. The scripture does not say but, after paying the tax, the family had returned north to their home in Nazareth. Much of Christmas tradition has the wise men at the Bethlehem stable, but now you know that was not the case, even though a nativity scene may portray that illusion.
The Christmas Story is incomplete without a brief pause to consider the precise earthly travels of various parties. These travels were all prompted by various celestial movements and angelic visitation, and no GPS to assist. Such a pause unmistakably reveals an incredible series of events that altered human history and brought the message of Peace on Earth and Good Will to all mankind.
Barney Barnes, Warrior Spirit Ministries, 12-23-2023