(borrowed and adapted from Bob Russell)
SERIES: “CHRISTMAS CAROL THEOLOGY”
TEXT: MICAH 5:2-5
TITLE: “Something Great from Something Small: O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM”
INTRODUCTION: A. Typical of last minute Christmas shoppers, a mother was running furiously from
store to store. Suddenly she became aware that the pudgy little hand of her three year
old son was no longer clutched in hers. In a panic she retraced her steps and found him
standing with his little nose pressed flatly against a frosty window. He was gazing at a
manger scene.
Hearing his mother’s near hysterical call, he turned and shouted with innocent glee:
"look mommy! it’s Jesus - baby Jesus in the hay". With obvious indifference to his joy
and wonder, she impatiently jerked him away saying, "we don’t have time for that!"
1. Sadly, that’s the attitude of a lot of people at Christmas time
2. They don’t have time for the real meaning of Christmas
3. Instead they’re stressed out about all the wrong things and are distracted from the
right thing
4. Chuck Swindoll writes of a commercial venture by one of the largest department
stores in the nation. It proved to be disastrously unsuccessful. Their idea was a doll
in the form of baby Jesus. It was advertised as being unbreakable, washable and
cuddly. It was packaged in straw with a satin crib and plastic surroundings, and
appropriate biblical texts added here and there to make the scene complete.
It did not sell. The manager of one of the stores panicked. He carried out a last
ditch promotion to get rid of these dolls. He hung a huge sign outside his store that
read: JESUS CHRIST -
MARKED DOWN 50%
GET HIM WHILE YOU CAN!
B. Phillips Brooks was burned out. He was known as the most dynamic and
inspirational preacher of his time, but he had lost his fervor and could not seem to
recover. In his mid twenties he had become pastor of the Holy Trinity Church in
Philadelphia. He recruited a super salesman named Lewis Redner to be his Sunday
School Superintendent and organist. The church exploded in growth. They began with
30 children and within a year there were 1000. The next two years the numbers
increased, partly because of Brooks’ dynamic preaching, partly because of Redner’s
music.
But then the Civil War came and the mood in the church became somber. The
national spirit was dying, women were wearing black due to a husband or son killed in
battle, and darkness fell over every facet of the worship services. Brooks tried to be
inspirational and encourage his church but it was draining him. When the war ended
he thought the vitality and joy would return immediately but it did not.
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and the pain intensified. Phillips Brooks was not
the President’s pastor, but because he was such a great orator, he was asked to preach
the President’s funeral. He reached down deep and found the appropriate words to say
for the moment but later he was so burned out that he could not rekindle his own
spiritual flame. So he asked the church for a sabbatical and took a trip to the Holy
Land.
On Christmas Eve in Jerusalem, he mounted a horse and went off riding. At dusk,
when the first stars were out, he rode into the tiny village of Bethlehem. The town had
changed little since the birth of Christ. It lifted Brooks spirits to be with a few feet of
the very spot where Jesus was born. There was singing in the church of the Nativity
and he felt surrounded by the Spirit of God.
Brooks wrote about his horseback journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he
assisted with the midnight service on Christmas Eve, 1865: “I remember standing in
the old church in Bethlehem, close to the spot where Jesus was born, when the whole
church was ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God, how again
and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the
Wonderful Night of the Savior’s birth.”
When he returned he wanted some way to express the stirring in his soul and he
decided it would be best communicated in the form of a poem. That was when "O,
Little Town of Bethlehem," was written. Lewis Redner, the organist, provided the
tune.
B. Micah 5:2-5 – “"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans
of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins
are from of old, from ancient times." Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time
when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the
Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD , in the
majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his
greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace."”
1. There are actually 2 BETHLEHEM’s mentioned in the Bible:
a. Northern – in Galilee – only 7 miles from Nazareth, where Mary & Joseph grew
up.
b. Southern – in Judea – only 5 miles from Jerusalem, where Jesus was born.
--reason for the specific mention in the prophecy
2. Micah and his prophecies: judgment pending but God faithful to His promises
a. same time as Isaiah and Hosea
b. The final person in David’s family line had been carried into captivity by the
Assyrians
--end of the line for the house of David in the physical
c. In the midst of suffering and anguish, God makes a promise
--there would be One who would come from David’s lineage and be King
d. This King would bring peace
3. However, God did not bring the kind of king everyone expected
--a warrior king who would drive out Israel’s physical enemies
4. This King would be the Son of God and His peace would be one that would
surpass all human understanding.
I. GOD CHOSE A LITTLE TOWN IN WHICH THE SAVIOR WAS TO BE BORN
A.. Bethlehem would not have impressed you from any angle.
1. It was kind of a suburb of Jerusalem.
2. Its population at the time was estimated to be about 150.
a. There were no crossroads, no notable resources.
b. It was so small that in both Joshua 15 and Nehemiah 11 it is overlooked in the listing of cities in
Judah.
3. Bethlehem was a quiet, shepherding community, but it did have some history:
a. Jacob’s wife, Rachel is buried there – Genesis 35:16-19
1). She died giving birth to Jacob’s youngest son
2). She asked the midwife to name him Benoni – “son of my sorrow”
3). It was the birthplace of Israel’s greatest king, King David. Jacob changed the name to Benjamin
– “son of my right hand”
--both terms used for the Messiah
b. Ruth was redeemed there - Ruth 4:10-11
1). Ruth and Naomi
2). Ruth and Boaz
c. David, Israel’s greatest earthly king was born and anointed there
d. It was prophesied that it would be the birthplace of the coming Messiah, who would inherit
David’s throne.
--And it’s an incredible prediction because it was made approximately 700 years before Jesus was
born
4. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread”
a. Matthew Rogers: “Sounds more like a home for the Pillsbury Dough Boy than it does the
birthplace of a king.”
b. But what more fitting place for the “Bread of life” to be born?
B. Micah 5:2 - “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you
will come for me one who will be the ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.’
1. God still selects small places to do big things.
2. Who would have guessed that anything significant would ever happen at Cane Ridge, Kentucky a little
crossroads outside of Paris, Kentucky?
a. Cain Ridge was the site of a gigantic revival led by Barton Stone in the early 1800’s.
b. That revival lasted for weeks and welcomed as many as 30,000 people.
--It was the impetus for a spiritual awakening that brought people together to form a growing church
on the frontier.
3. In time the Barton Stone and Thomas Campbell movements joined and the Christian Church and the
Churches of Christ became the fastest growing religious movement in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s
4. Coincidentally, on September the 18, 2002 The New York Times listed the fastest growing religious
movements in America during the decade of the 1990’s.
--The Christian Church was second, with an 18% increase, less than one percent behind the Mormons.
5. All that began in a little out of the way spot called Cane Ridge, Kentucky.
C. 1 Cor. 1:27-28 – “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak
things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised
things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are…”
1. God still chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
2. He still chooses the lowly things of the world
a. Humility and availability are more important to God than pride and talent
b. Have you ever wondered what God can do through us in Washington, IN?
1). It doesn’t have all things much bigger and more important cities have
2). But God can still use it to impact the world!
II. GOD CHOSE A PEASANT COUPLE TO BE THE PARENTS OF THE SAVIOR
A. Jesus’ parents were not impressive, successful people in the world’s eyes.
1. He was a carpenter – a laborer
--Not a politician, not wealthy, no social influence – just a man who loved God and wanted to do what
was right in God’s eyes
2. She was a simple peasant girl
--who lived in a small town, not from a wealthy family,
3. But they’re the ones God chose to parent His one and only begotten Son
B. God often chooses people the world labels as insignificant to do His will.
1. All He asks of us is obedience
2. Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was once giving a group of his constituents a
guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the group happened to meet
Lord Hailsham, then lord chancellor, wearing all the regalia of his office. Hailsham recognized
Marten among the group and enthusiastically called out his name, "Neil!" Not daring to question or
disobey the "command," the entire band of visitors promptly fell to their knees!
--Joseph and Mary were chosen for their obedience to whatever God called them to do
III. GOD CHOSE TO ENTER THE WORLD AS A HELPLESS INFANT
A. When God gave His only Son there was no notification of how valuable this gift was. He came to earth
silently, humbly as a helpless baby.
B. Why? Why did God choose to send Jesus into the world as a helpless baby?
1. First, Jesus came not just to save us, but to humbly identify with our struggles and sympathize with
our pain.
--Heb. 4:15 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.
2. Secondly, He demonstrated His power and wisdom. His ways are not our ways.
a. God uses the simple things to confound the wise. He uses the weak things to humble the strong.
b. 1 Cor. 1:18-21 –“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the
wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the
scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the
world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God
was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”
CONCLUSION: A. Dr. Seuss, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (This takes place after the Grinch has
removed all the elements of Christmas celebration: the presents, the trees, the food
"Every Who Down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
was singing! Without any presents at all!
He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming at all!
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
It came without packages, boxes or bags!
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
Maybe Christmas, He thought, doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Christmas...Perhaps...means a little bit more!"
1. Of course, the Grinch is right
2. Christmas means a whole lot more
B. Two missionaries, held for ransom by bandits in the hills of Columbia, were kept
captive in a squalid hut. Kept under armed guard, they were forbidden to speak to one
another. Yet on Christmas day, one missionary intently worked with pieces of hay that
were there on the hard clay floor. When he had finished, he stepped back and showed the
other missionary his finished product. In the dim light of the hut, the other missionary
smiled broadly as there in the straw arranged on the floor was a single word "Immanuel."
What a statement of faith and hope. What a statement of peace and comfort and
consolation even in the obnoxious circumstances. There was one word that would give
encouragement, the encouragement in the straw – Immanuel. There was that day in
Bethlehem when in the straw there would be encouragement for mankind.
Matthew would quote this passage from Micah saying that the one born in that straw
would be called Immanuel; that he would stand with his people, God dwelling among his
people to give hope and comfort and consolation.
C. In his address during the Pageant of Peace and the lighting of the White House Christmas
tree, President George W. Bush included the following comments on December 2, 2005:
“The season of Advent is always the season of hope. We think of the patient hope of
men and women across the centuries who listened to the words of the prophets and lived
in joyful expectation. We think of the hope of Mary, who welcomed God’s plan with
great faith. We think of the hope of the Wise Men, who set out on a long journey, guided
only by a slender promise traced in the stars. We are reminded of the hope that the
grandest purposes of the Almighty can be found in the humblest places. And we embrace
the hope that all the love and gifts that come to us in this life are the signs and symbols
of even a greater love and gift that came on a holy night. The old carol speaks of a ‘thrill
of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.’ And
every year at this time, we feel the thrill of hope as we wait on Christmas day.”
D. So often it’s not the big things that matter; it’s the little things in our lives—things we
can do for others.
1. Phillips Brooks once said, "It is while you are patiently toiling at the little tasks of
life that the meaning and shape of the great whole of life dawns on you."
2. I hope Brooks prayer in the last stanza of O Little Town of Bethlehem is your prayer
today:
--"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 angles, the great, glad tidings tell. O
come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel." AMEN!
