A Few Thoughts on Bethlehem at this Holiday Season

Sometimes, that which seems small can signify great things. As we’ve reflected and were taught about Bethlehem and the Savior’s birth, we’ve added and compiled a few thoughts:

Bethlehem

Meaning “house or place of bread,” Bethlehem would produce the “Bread of Life.”

The Inns

There were no rooms in the Inns but He has said He has prepared a place for you in the mansions of his father.

The Lamb of God

The Lamb of God was born in a stable and perhaps near where shepherds kept the flocks of sheep for the temple.

The Good Shepherd

The announcement of the birth of the Good Shepherd near Shepherd’s Field was given to the shepherds who cared for the flocks of Israel.

The Manger

Set in a manger used for feeding, He would be the one to feed Israel.

King of Kings

The King of Kings was born in the most humble of circumstances.

Passover

Jesus, the Lamb of God was born at or near the Passover season when the sacrificial lamb would be sacrificed commemorating the physical deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt. Jesus came as the spiritual deliverer.

Looking out from the shepherd’s fields, we could see olive trees down below.

Earlier in 2010, we sat at the Shepherd’s Fields and sang:

1. O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

2. For Christ is born of Mary,
And, gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

3. How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Hymns, O Little Town of Bethlehem, no. 208

Text: Phillips Brooks, 1835–1893

We also sang Silent Night:

1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace;
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Hymns, Silent Night, no. 204
Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792–1848; trans. by John F. Young, 1820–1885

Some insights to Bethlehem from our previous post:

• There are three different processions at the Church of the Nativity: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Aramaic.
• The announcement to the shepherds of Jesus’ Birth is thought to have been in the Shepherd’s Field area we visited.
• In the same area, the story of Ruth and Boaz occurred.
• Jacob’s wife Rachel died in the Bethlehem giving birth to Benjamin.
• It is called the City of Kings.
• David, King David, was from Bethlehem.
• Bethlehem is about 800 meters above sea level.
• The area of Bethlehem is full of caves, we saw and entered into a few.
• Caves there are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
• Caves were easily expanded due to the soft nature of the limestone.
• It sometimes snows in Bethlehem.
• It’s 75 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem (a 4 day trip).
• Joseph and Mary came during Passover.
• The firstborn of the sheep were to be set aside for sacrifice.

We recently watched again The Nativity Story which was released in 2006. The movie experience was much different this time around having visited Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem. The movie helps visualize the following:

Luke 2:1-20

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

From Mathew Chapter 1

18 ¶Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

From Matthew Chapter 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, 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.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 ¶And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 ¶Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 ¶But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

For us, singing those Christmas hymns at church will never be the same, but you don’t have to Israel to know that it’s true. Thanks for reading.

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Commemorating The Great Fall of the Terrible Wall – Holding a Piece of History

Do you remember the fall of the Berlin Wall? What an emotional event as we watched on television and in pictures!

Today, November 9, 2009 we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall.

I remember watching the images and the joy of the people of Berlin as the wall came down.  One of our family friends visited Berlin as a reporter soon after the wall fell and was allowed to bring back pieces of the wall that he chipped off by himself.  Below is a picture of me holding a piece of history, part of the Berlin Wall in my hands.

About the Berlin Wall from Wikipedia:

The Berlin Wall (German: Berliner Mauer) was a concrete barrier erected by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East Germany) that completely encircled the city of West Berlin, separating it from East Germany, including East Berlin. The Wall included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, which circumscribed a wide area (later known as the “death strip”) that contained anti-vehicle trenches, “fakir beds” and other defenses.

The separate and much longer inner German Border (the IGB) demarcated the border between East and West Germany. Both borders came to symbolize the Iron Curtain between Western Europe and the Eastern Bloc.

Prior to the Wall’s erection, 3.5 million East Germans had avoided Eastern Bloc emigration restrictions and escaped into West Germany, many over the border between East and West Berlin. During its existence from 1961 to 1989, the Wall stopped almost all such emigration and separated the GDR from West Berlin for more than a quarter of a century. After its erection, around 5,000 people attempted to escape over the wall, with estimates of the resulting death toll varying between around 100 and 200.

During a revolutionary wave sweeping across the Eastern Bloc, the East German government announced on November 9, 1989, after several weeks of civil unrest, that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere. Over the next few weeks, parts of the wall were chipped away by a euphoric public and by souvenir hunters; industrial equipment was later used to remove almost all of the rest. The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for German reunification, which was formally concluded on October 3, 1990.

The Denver Post Blog posted awesome pictures of the event as well as the progression of the building of the wall, escape attempts, and the coming down of the wall.

Here’s the link to Ronald Reagan Berlin Wall Speech in its entirety, Courtesy Wikipedia.  I listened to the speech recently, and what a great hallmark it is.

Even Alvin and Chipmunks (the cartoon) had an episode I remember from the 80′s calling for the The Wall to come down.

Wikipedia Source: Berlin Wall. (2009, November 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:40, November 9, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Berlin_Wall&oldid=324762845

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Happy Columbus Day 2009

Welcome, the honorable yet little celebrated Columbus Day.

It appears that we take more note of “lesser” holidays such as Valentine’s Day and “Talk Like a Pirate Day” but little notice is given to Columbus Day.

Yet, here is another year, and another Columbus Day.  But where are our thoughts about the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria?  Back in the 4th Grade I suspect.

It is fitting that at least once a year, we who live in the Americas should take note of the Explorer Columbus and his  achievement.

From Wikipedia:

Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1905, and became a federal holiday in 1934. But people have celebrated Columbus’ voyage since the colonial period. In 1792, New York City and other eastern U.S. cities celebrated the 300th anniversary of his landing in the New World. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison called upon the people of the United States to celebrate Columbus Day on the 400th anniversary of the event. During the 400-year anniversary in 1892, teachers, preachers, poets and politicians used Columbus Day rituals to teach ideals of patriotism. These patriotic rituals were framed around themes such as support for war, citizenship boundaries, the importance of loyalty to the nation, and celebrating social progress.

Columbus Day. (2009, October 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:18, October 12, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Columbus_Day&oldid=319352972

Although we may wish more was given to celebrate Columbus Day, I bet you didn’t know about Leif Erikson Day in the United States.

From Wikipedia:

Leif Erikson Day is an American observance occurring on October 9. It honors Leif Ericson (Leifr Eiríksson), who brought the first Europeans known to have set foot in North America. In 1964, the United States Congress authorized and requested the President to create the observance through an annual proclamation. Lyndon B. Johnson and each President since have done so. Presidents have used the proclamation to praise the contributions of Americans of Nordic descent generally and the spirit of discovery.

Leif Erikson Day. (2009, October 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:24, October 12, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leif_Erikson_Day&oldid=318950325

Some interesting facts about Columbus’s voyage from Wikipedia:

While Columbus’s calculations underestimated the circumference of the Earth and the distance from the Canary Islands to Japan by the standards of his peers as well as in fact, Europeans generally assumed that the aquatic expanse between Europe and Asia was uninterrupted.

There was a further element of key importance in the plans of Columbus, a closely held fact discovered, or otherwise learned, by Columbus: the trade winds. A brisk wind from the east, commonly called an “easterly”, propelled Santa María, La Niña, and La Pinta for five weeks from the Canaries. To return to Spain eastward against this prevailing wind would have required several months of an arduous sailing technique, called beating, during which food and drinkable water would have been utterly exhausted. Columbus returned home by following prevailing winds northeastward from the southern zone of the North Atlantic to the middle latitudes of the North Atlantic, where prevailing winds are eastward (westerly) to the coastlines of Western Europe, where the winds curve southward towards the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, Columbus was wrong about degrees of longitude to be traversed and wrong about distance per degree, but he was right about a more vital fact: how to use the North Atlantic’s great circular wind pattern, clockwise in direction, to get home.

Christopher Columbus. (2009, October 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:43, October 12, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christopher_Columbus&oldid=319330533

Unbeknown  to most of history, the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria actually got their start in the bath.  Well, not really, but we had fun creating our ships for Columbus Day.  We also learned from the History Channel that shortly after his discovery and thereafter for about 300 years, Columbus was not given the credit for discovering America.  It wasn’t until the 300th anniversary rolled around that someone brought up that Columbus was the one who should receive the credit.

Even with its extra coat of wax, the Santa Maria encountered an untimely end due to large waves in the rough sea.  Perhaps we should have taken pictures of the ships before they entered their voyage.

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