Two Bethlehems.

A couple of weeks ago I, and all who were present at the Pathway Fellowship in Wishaw, received a little booklet on the story of Ruth, found in the First Testament in the Bible. The booklet is entitled "Finding Hope under Bethlehem Skies" and is a brief devotional commentary on the story of Ruth, and how it relates to this Christmas season (which, some will know, ought really to be celebrated in September - but that's another story!).

The connection with Christmas is not just the town of Bethlehem, but the amazing fact that Ruth, a member of the Moabite people, sworn enemies of the Children of Israel, had a descendant Who was named "Jesus" because, as an angel revealed to Joseph of Nazareth, "... He will save His people from their sins." (Matt.1:21). Yes, a Moabite - themselves the result of the incestuous sexual act of a drunken Lot and one of his own daughters (Gen.19) - is an ancestor, after the flesh, of the One Who is the Saviour of all who come to Him in faith. Actually, Matthew tells us more. Boaz, who took Ruth to be his wife, was the son of Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho. Indeed, his ancestry goes right back to Judah's sexual act with his daughter-in-law, disguised as a common prostitute! (Gen.38).  But both of these women placed their trust in YHWH, the God of Israel - and that is what matters! It is also a reminder - even to our Jewish friends - that YHWH (HaShem) is God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews, and that He can take the most unlikely material, and use it to bring about His will and purposes! 

The birth of Jesus, the Christ was, as far as we know, perfectly normal! What was miraculous was His conception! It was unlike any other in the whole history of humankind. It was, indeed, an "other world" conception. The angel, Gabriel, told Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;" (Lk.1:35). The Child conceived in her womb was from outwith our world. And this had to be so because the Boy born to Mary was Immanuel - "God with us" (Is.7:14; Matt.1:23).

I've just finished reading a book that seeks to relate Biblical theology to Quantum Physics! I understood about 10%!!! But one thing about which I agreed fully with the author is that eternity is not, as some suggest, "endless time", but a state of "timelessness", and the "distance" between time and eternity is but a small fraction of a nanosecond! The Baby born in Bethlehem was of heavenly origin. Almighty God, the Creator, had entered this physical world in the form, and with the nature, of a human Infant. He came into this world from eternity, and His incarnation made possible our redemption - but that, too is another story!

Now, if we consider this more deeply, and if we are His disciples, then we must realise that our own new birth - our regeneration - comes from outwith this world! Jesus said the we are "born from above" (Jn.3:3, 7-8; alternative translation). Our salvation is not from any earthly source, but from Almighty God Himself, through Jesus, Who is God the Son, by means of of God the Holy Spirit. In a sense, then, my heart becomes a "Bethlehem stable", a place where Jesus comes into the world! I open the door to Him, by faith, and He is born in me bu the Holy Spirit. And that is the case for all who have accepted Him as Saviour, and Lord, and King.

We make Him known to others by His power working within us. He affects every aspect of our lives. We are, in a sense (I almost typed "quantum sense"!) a "Bethlehem" - His place of entrance in the world in which we live today. Someone has noted that the Christ was born here below, that we might be born from above! Of course, if the stable door is closed after He enters, then we will never be able to share Him with others!

The booklet I mentioned at the beginning suggests a song to which the reader might listen each day. So here is a song for you. Listen carefully to the last verse: "O Holy Child of Bethlehem, ... ... be born in us today"! May that be the sincere prayer of each one of us as we move through this Advent season - and anticipate the Second Advent, when He comes again, not as a helpless infant, but as the mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords. I trust that you are prepared for that tumultuous event!