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DECEMBER 2011
Bethlehem – a place of coming and going.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of
the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed
wife, who was with child. (Luke
2)
A lot of attention was suddenly focused on the small town of Bethlehem.
Jews from many parts of the world came to be counted in a census. Mary
and Joseph travelled there from Nazareth. Shepherds came from the fields
to see the Baby lying in a manger after multitudes of the heavenly host
had come to announce ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill towards men on whom his favour rests.’ (Luke 2)
Every Christmas we have an opportunity in our minds to go to Bethlehem to
celebrate the birth of Jesus. There, we have time to wonder anew at the
magnitude of God’s love for us in the incarnation of Christ. In Bethlehem
we can worship as the shepherds did all those centuries ago. But we
cannot stay in Bethlehem we must leave. The angels returned to heaven and
Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem and then later to safety in Egypt. The
shepherd’s too left the stable after meeting Jesus. But their exit gives
us a very clear lesson. After worshipping the Christ, they left the
stable and told everyone about the holy Child. ‘All all those who
heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.’
(Luke 2 v.18)
It is appropriate for us to do the same, to worship and then go out and
proclaim. Micah prophesied that from Bethlehem would go out a Ruler, who
had come to save mankind from sin (Micah 5:2). This Christmas, let us
join those who have gone forth from their visits to Bethlehem to proclaim
the good news of Christ, who came to save us.
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.
Rev David Irvine
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