Christmas Story - Day 2 - Where was Jesus born?

Joseph was a just man and he fulfilled every lawful obligation in regard to circumcision, purification, and the keeping of the Passover, and when Caesar Augustus had decreed a census, Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem, where they were inscribed in the census roll, for “he was of the house and family of David” (Luke 2:4). There Jesus was born, and the great prophecy of Micah 5:2 was fulfilled.

City of Judah, also called BETH-LEHEM-JUDAH (Judges 17:7-9). It is first mentioned in connection with the death and burial of Rachel. Gen. 35:19. The history of Ruth is also connected with Beth-lehem. Ruth 1:1-22; Ruth 2:4. David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so that apparently it was the place of David's birth, 1 Sam. 16:4; 1 Sam. 17:12, 15; and this accounts for its being called in Luke 2:11 the 'city of David.' It was also the birth-place of Jesus: though it was "little among the thousands of Judah," it the better agreed with His humiliation. Beth-lehem, signifying 'house of bread,' is a very appropriate name for a place whence the Saviour should proceed as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

The place of Christ’s birth. Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, tells us that Bethlehem was to be the place of Christ’s birth (chap. 5:2). Luke 2 tells us how the whole world was taxed by Caesar Augustus, making it necessary for Joseph to go up to Bethlehem, the city of David, because he was of David’s house and lineage. And there, in the stable of the inn, the blessed Saviour of mankind was born, fulfilling Micah’s prophecy in a wonderful way.

With Caesar Augustus however, it was far different. Even the people of God were placed in servitude; and wonderful to say, the mother of the Messiah was among those, as well as His legal father, who had to pay obedience to the decree of the Roman Emperor. They went up accordingly for the census45 to their own city, the city of David, Bethlehem,44 thus accomplishing the prophecies. And what made it the more remarkable is that, in verse 2, we are told that "the census itself first took place when Cyrenius43a was governor of Syria." It was not effected at the time here in view as proposed, but was sufficiently carried out to call the parents of our Lord from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, which accomplished not man's census, but God's prophecy. God took care that it should be just fulfilled enough to carry out His purposes. It was not till some years afterwards that Cyrenius was governor of Syria. Then it was carried into effect fully,45 but meanwhile all went up to be enrolled, each to his own city. "The census itself" (αὐτή): so ACLΔ and later uncials, with most cursives. — Edd.: "This (αὕτη) was the first census," after ℵBD.

Therefore "Joseph also went up from Galilee,46 out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to David's city, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and family of David), to be enrolled with Mary47 his betrothed wife,47a she being great with child." From the time that a woman among the Jews was espoused, she was considered legally the wife of him to whom she was betrothed. Thus the Lord, while really Son of His mother Mary, was legally of Joseph; and both Joseph and Mary were of the royal line. The Lord Jesus, therefore, represented David on both sides; but as the law required, He was the descendant of Solomon on the legal side. For no matter how unquestionably He might have been the Son of Mary, descended from the Nathan stem, He could not have been according to law the Messiah as long as there was a living representative of the Solomon branch. But the Lord, being the legally-reputed Son of Joseph as well as Mary's child, was precisely so descended as to be in every required respect "David's Son," the Messiah. I say this quite independently of His Divine glory, which was demanded for other and far deeper reasons. "Wife": so AΔ and later uncials, nearly all cursives (including 33, 69) and Amiat. — Edd. omit, after ℵBCpm DL, etc. Syrsin simply "wife" (Mrs. Lewis in Expositor: "under full legal protection of Joseph").

Thus then "while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son48 and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in the manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke always loves to present moral features. Accordingly there is an intimation very instructive for us in the circumstance that it was in the manger Jesus was laid, not in the inn. There was no room for them in the inn. The Lord of glory when born into this world was laid in the manger. What a picture of the state of the world! There was no room for Him who was God in the world! The children of men according to their means found their place in the inn as it suited them. Those who had money could command a place proportioned to what they were willing to pay. But the parents of the Lord were in such poverty as to be thoroughly despised at the inn, and the only place where they could find a shelter for the Babe was a manger. "The": so Δ and later uncials. Edd. omit, after ℵABDLΞ.

The greatest thing that ever happened in Bethlehem was one of the most astounding events in the history of time. The prophecy of Micah 5: 2 was fulfilled when Emmanuel (God with us) was born there. It is impossible for the human mind to understand the wonder of the incarnation of the Son of God. The believing and reverent soul accepts the plain but profound statements of Holy Scripture. Reasoning gives way to worship. The Word became flesh (John 1: 14). The fulness of the time was come and God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4: 4).

Throughout the world numerous places have plaques fixed to houses or walls announcing to any who are interested that great persons, famous or infamous, were born there. See Psalm 87: 4-6. Those who have visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem will remember that in the grotto where it is claimed Jesus was born there is a silver star on the marble floor. On the star is the inscription "HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS EST" (Here of the Virgin Mary Jesus Christ was born). However interesting that may be, the intelligent believer in the Lord Jesus bows in worship because the incarnation of the Son of God commenced a series of events which culminated in His atoning death on Golgotha's hill in Jerusalem. David's city, celebrated in song and prose, will always be remembered as the place where Jesus, the Son of David, was born.

Now we pass to Luke 2, and see how all this was brought about. There had been a remarkable prophecy in the Old Testament, which I daresay is familiar to most of you. The prophet Micah had announced: "But thou, Bethlehem-Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2). This scripture plainly declared that Christ should be born in Bethlehem. I do not know whether you have noticed the meaning of the word, but it is very interesting. Bethlehem means "The House of Bread." And, oh, beloved friends, has not Bethlehem been a very House of Bread for hungry sinners for eighteen long centuries? Thank God, it has. From that spot came out the living bread, the bread of God. That scripture was so well known that when Jesus was born, and the wise men came from the East to look for Him, the scribes could quote the passage, and tell Herod that Bethlehem was to be the birthplace of Messiah (Matt. 2:5-6).

But how was this to be brought about, seeing that Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, scores of miles away from Bethlehem? How then was the Scripture to be fulfilled? Oh, how little men think that God is behind the scenes, and quietly overrules what takes place on the earth. The Emperor of Rome, Caesar Augustus, became suddenly possessed of the idea that he would like to know the extent of his dominion and the number of his subjects, and he determined therefore to have a census taken. He sends out, in the pride of his imperial majesty, an edict that the people are to be numbered. Very natural for a king to like to know how many people he reigns over. But in this instance the emperor would know, not only the numbers, but the nationalities of those over whom he reigned; and consequently, when the order went out for this census to be taken, every man went to his own city. So absolute was the edict that every Jew, no matter where he lived, was bound, under terrible penalty, to go up to his own city to be enrolled.

In order that He should be born at Bethlehem, the whole of the Roman world was to be taxed. The proud Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, little thought when he set in motion all the machinery to bring this taxing about that it was to fulfil the Scripture, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth to Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2). In that prophecy, seven centuries and more before the birth of our Lord, we have presented to us His manhood, the place of His birth, and also the careful assertion of His deity.

The evangelist tells us that there was no room for the couple from Nazareth in the inn. Doubtless at the time of the census the inn would be crowded with guests, and the only available place for the Galilean carpenter, Joseph, and Mary, his wife, was the stable with the cattle. The innkeeper would regard them as the humblest of the humble. But it appeals to us that the Saviour of mankind was born in a stable. The manner of His entrance into this sad world was ordered of God. Is not His humble entrance into this world a rebuke to the pride and pomp of man?

If there were any that did not know, God did not allow them to remain long in ignorance of this great event. For soon there came some wise men from the east to Jerusalem, and they earnestly asked, “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.” This question troubled “Herod,” and “all Jerusalem with him.” These strangers had, at the sight of “His star,” left their homes, and had taken a long journey, because they wanted to worship Him. And Herod called “all the chief priests and scribes of the people together,” and these all agreed in saying that Bethlehem was the city in which Christ was to be born. The prophet Micah had foretold this (Mic. 5:2).

"And when Herod the king heard it he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and having gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for it is written through the prophet, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, art in no wise least among the governors of Juda; for out of thee shall come forth a leader who shall be a shepherd to my people Israel."

Well, Joseph went up "to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child" (Luke 2:4-5). I do not know whether you have observed what the second verse says: "This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria." It would thus appear that the census was not made at all at this time; it fell through. Although the emperor had commanded it, and put everything in motion to get the census taken, for reasons of policy it fell through — was countermanded — and it did not actually take place till ten or fifteen years afterwards. However, the commandment sufficed to bring about the fulfilment of the Word of God, and, as Micah by the Spirit had said that Christ should be born in Bethlehem, the world's machinery was allowed to be so moved and ordered that His mother must needs travel thither to obey an earthly ruler, and thus He was born there.

Now look at the manner of His birth: "And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered; and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Now think of what we have been looking at touching this Blessed One, what we have been hearing from God's Word concerning Him, what He was in Himself, and what He was to be, the Son of the Highest, the King of Israel, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Life, the King of Glory, God's own Blessed Eternal Son! Think who He was, and what He was, and whence He came, and why He came; and then travel in your mind to that little city of Bethlehem, and see there that lowly carpenter, with his espoused wife, shut out of the inn where travellers are generally received, because it was full, and obliged to take their place in the stable! There was no room for them in the inn, and so Jesus, the Son of God — the Son of Man — was born in a stable among the cattle.