The road to bethlehem.

The road to Bethlehem from Nazareth is about 60 miles.

The road to Bethlehem from heaven was a million miles of God’s love and sacrifice.

Scripture gives us the travelogue of God’s journey to redeem His creatures.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

The clouds are gathering, the milk has been spilt, the cookie jar broken. Two naked humans stand before God in a garden, the dawn of time begins with a death sentence. In that very moment God quickly announces a plan to fix it, to rescue and heal. A champion from humanity will defeat satan to reset creation.

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

2600 BC A Chaldean named Abram is confronted by God with a mission and blessing. He will go to a new land and be given an extended family. This family will grow like the sands of the seashore to cover other nations with blessing or curse, depending on their treatment of the Chaldean’s children. Salvation will come through Abram’s family.

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. Genesis 22:6-8

Years later the first sprout of the promise arrives with a baby, Isaac. But God asks the unthinkable – “Abraham, sacrifice your son to Me.” In the moment of his faith-climb up the mountain, Abraham utters a Spirit-inspired answer to his son – “The lamb? Don’t worry, God will take care of that.” He did, immediately on that mountain, but it was a bigger answer. God asks His people through the centuries to slaughter animals, splatter their blood on altars – a stark picture of the devastation of sin and the price it exacts. But also a foreshadowing of the Sacrifice that was to come.

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. Genesis 49:10

The two generations later, Abraham’s grandson Jacob is dolling out blessings and prophecies on his sons. Judah – not the holiest one in the bunch – receives the promise of a Ruling Descendant. The lifesaving King will be in his family tree.

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17

A thousand years later, an Israeli prophet is in the middle of telling what he sees in the future for some pagan nations, and he’s struck with a vision of a star. A star that is tied to an Israeli King. This will be of great interest and help to a group of magi a millennium later.

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16

A thousand years before the Bethlehem trek, another Bethlehemite is told by a prophet that his descendants will rule Israel forever. David will have an Heir that rules the kingdom without end.

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?  Therefore the Lord himself will give you [c] a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and [d] will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:10-14

Seven centuries before Bethlehem a teenage king is terrified by the prospect of invasion from neighboring nations. God offers comfort through His preacher, Isaiah, but Ahaz doesn’t really count on God’s strength. God prompts Isaiah to make a “now-and-later” prophecy, telling how He will rescue Ahaz’s people then – but ultimately rescue all people. A human child with only a mother.

“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.” Micah 5:2

The travelogue includes points of interest, including the exact town the Lifesaver will hail from. The King will come from Bethlehem in Judah. This info will guide a teenage couple, and will be offered to inquiring magi - but Herod’s scripture teachers who share it won’t check it out for themselves.

And so the road winds, from the dawn of time, through humanity, narrowed down to a nation, then a tribe, then a family of kings, down to the doorstep of the actual town – the Lifesaver comes.

But why does He come down the road?

The soothsaying astrologers of King Nebuchadnezzar complain that the king has asked them to reveal and interpret his secret dream. But they touch on the reason for Bethlehem…

“What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, AND THEY DO NOT LIVE AMONG MEN.” Daniel 2:11

Which was true – until Bethlehem. We not only have a God who cares and comes down to rescue – we have a God who puts on our flesh and moves next door.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.