The House of Bread
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
John 7:42
The most popular name for cities and towns in the United States is Washington. Eighty-eight times, the nation’s first President has been memorialized in city names.1 So when someone says they are from Washington, it’s completely legitimate to ask, “Which one?”
The same question might have been asked in biblical times if someone said they were from Bethlehem since there were two. One was in the north in the Galilee region (Joshua 19:15). The other was six miles southwest of Jerusalem in the land of the tribe of Judah. Bethlehem in Judah was the home of the family of Jesse, one of whose sons, David, became the second king of Israel. Thus, Bethlehem was eventually known as the “City of David.” When Caesar instituted a census, Joseph—a descendant of David—took his pregnant wife, Mary, to Bethlehem to register. While there, Jesus was born, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 5:2.
In Hebrew, Bethlehem meant “house of bread.” How fitting that the One who became the Bread of Life was born in the “house of bread” (John 6:48).
The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
Ralph W. Sockman
Turning Point Ministries
​
Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
John 7:42
The most popular name for cities and towns in the United States is Washington. Eighty-eight times, the nation’s first President has been memorialized in city names.1 So when someone says they are from Washington, it’s completely legitimate to ask, “Which one?”
The same question might have been asked in biblical times if someone said they were from Bethlehem since there were two. One was in the north in the Galilee region (Joshua 19:15). The other was six miles southwest of Jerusalem in the land of the tribe of Judah. Bethlehem in Judah was the home of the family of Jesse, one of whose sons, David, became the second king of Israel. Thus, Bethlehem was eventually known as the “City of David.” When Caesar instituted a census, Joseph—a descendant of David—took his pregnant wife, Mary, to Bethlehem to register. While there, Jesus was born, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah 5:2.
In Hebrew, Bethlehem meant “house of bread.” How fitting that the One who became the Bread of Life was born in the “house of bread” (John 6:48).
The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.
Ralph W. Sockman
Turning Point Ministries
​
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