O Holy Child of Bethlehem
By Pastor Tim Shaw
The birth of Jesus is passed over by Matthew with great economy. He covers the actual event in one sentence. “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod” (Matthew 2:1). No stable, no shepherds, no angelic choirs, just Bethlehem in Herod’s day. By naming the place of Jesus’ birth, the little town of Bethlehem, and the context in which that birth took place, during the time of King Herod, Matthew has ahold of something that was, and still is, wholly unexpected and utterly astounding. Great hope is wrapped up in that one verse from Matthew.
Jesus, the one who was born king of the Jews, was in the arms of his young mother Mary in the town of Bethlehem. But another king was in charge of that town and everything and everyone surrounding Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth – or so it seemed. On a hill, towering over the town of Bethlehem, King Herod had constructed an enormous palace. It was called the “Herodian”. It covered 45 acres and was the third largest palace in the world in his day. From his fortress, Herod could see the Dead Sea, the Judean wilderness and of course Bethlehem. Herod was a man of great vision and enormous power. Tragically, he was willing to use and abuse that power to exert his control over others. It was into this fractured world that Jesus was born. Taken at face value, it would have appeared that the humble birth of Jesus would have no impact at all on the unjust power structures of the Roman Empire. But God had a plan.
In chapter 1 of the Gospel According to Matthew there is a genealogy that show us that Jesus was born, as promised, into the line of King David, which placed him in the lineage of Jacob. King Herod was an Edomite, which placed him in the lineage of Jacob’s fraternal twin brother Esau. You can read the dramatic story of these two brothers beginning in Genesis 25. During their mother’s pregnancy, God explains the jostling taking place inside her womb. God tells Rebekah, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23). This remarkable promise that the younger son will rule over his elder brother is completely unexpected and counter-cultural. That inversion of the power structures in that day simply did not happen. But watch this! Here is the dramatic truth that relates to the story of Jesus and Herod. Jacob is the younger of the two boys. He will rule over his older brother Esau.
That promise is continuing to unfold today. The descendent of Jacob (King Jesus) is born into a world dominated by a descendent of Esau (King Herod). The kingdom ruled by Herod was built on aggression, cruelty and the abuse of authority. The Kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus, finds its origins in great power that expresses itself in love and vulnerability. Herod was thirty-three years old on the day he was inaugurated king of Judea, the same age at which Jesus died on the cross to inaugurate the in-breaking of His kingdom into our world. With the birth of Jesus, God is in the process of personally inverting the unjust power structures of our world.
I’ve been to the Herodian and looked down on Bethlehem from its towering heights. As I stood there, looking at the place where Jesus was born, it dawned on me that all that Herod created is now in ruins. Herod was just in it for himself. Jesus, on the other hand, left no buildings or palaces but His kingdom of love, mercy, justice, truth and grace is still being born in the lives of women and men, girls and boys all over the world.
The good news of Christmas is that the One who came in weakness and vulnerability and because of love, is on His throne. That is why you and I can live with hope this Christmas. Jesus is King and He is ready to bring us hope, new life, and His peace as He fills us with His Presence and love. In the words of the familiar Christmas carol, let us pray, “O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in. Be born in us today.” Amen
O Little Town of Bethlehem, sung by Fernando Ortega
Enjoy this familiar carol sung to a non-traditional tune. A new melody to a familiar song can help us consider the meaning and significance of the words being sung. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN and sing along.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God our King,
And peace to men on earth.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
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