It is not uncommon to ask a new acquaintance where they were born. Knowing where someone is born can help you understand more about a person. Such is the case with the birthplace of Jesus.
In Matthew 2:6, we learn that Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem. The place of Jesus’ birth was significant for several reasons, one of which is the fulfillment of Micah 5:2. The prophet Micah told the specific location of the birth of the Messiah centuries beforehand (approximately 700 B.C.). The prophecy is so specific that he uses Bethlehem “Ephrathah” to distinguish between two “Bethlehems” that existed. Bethlehem Ephrathah was a very small town about five miles south of Jerusalem. It was certainly not a place we would think that God’s Son would be born. It is also the place where King David was born (1 Samuel 16:1, 4).
“The most insignificant place would bring forth the most significant person.” [1]
Jesus’ birthplace reminds us that He is the Son of David as well as the great King prophesied centuries beforehand. We can always trust God’s Word to be true and that it will be fulfilled with exact precision. Also, it reminds us that Lord’s ways are much different than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). From a small insignificant place would come forth the Savior of the world.
Blessings,
Pastor Steven
[1] Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible, Micah.