O Little Town of Bethlehem

In 1865, Phillip Brooks penned the traditional Christmas Carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Brooks wrote the carol for the purpose of helping children in Sunday School understand the significance and importance of the birth place of Jesus Christ. He based the hymn on his own personal experience that occurred two years prior when he rode on horse back from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to aid in a Christmas Eve service.

But why Bethlehem? Why such an outpost for the Messiah to be born? At the time of Jesus birth, at least three other locations existed that held significance, Jerusalem, Rome, and Athens. Each of those cities would have brought fanfare and celebration to the birth of the King, but instead God chose the little town of Bethlehem.

Jerusalem represented religion. Jerusalem housed the temple and was the central location for the Jewish religious leadership. The city of Jerusalem stood as ground zero for religion in the world. As a result, God chose not to use Jerusalem. The significance points to the truth that religion alone never saves one. A hope that is built on religion alone is a hope that is built on a faulty foundation. Likewise, our hope in life cannot and must not rest in a religion.

Rome stood for the government. Many people today hold that the cure for peace and hope in the world today comes through the government. In fact, the very backbone of the movement of social justice teaches that through the government that all can be brought into complete harmony, unity, and peace. The Jews also wanted Jesus to be a military, governmental conqueror and Messiah. But God’s plan for peace and hope is not through the government, but rather through His Son. Today, our hope must not rest in the proper government decrees, government officials, or government ideologies.

Athens housed the foundation of philosophy at the time of Jesus birth. Philosophy represented the concept of knowledge. To be born in Athens would have pointed to the gaining of knowledge and wisdom as the means to obtain hope. But God did not require the gaining of knowledge to receive hope, but rather required a relationship with His son Jesus. Thus, Athens did not serve as a proper place for Jesus.

But the little town of Bethlehem served as the prime location to receive the Son of God. First, the name Bethlehem means the “House of Bread.” Jesus is known as the Bread of Life (John 6:35). Thus, the Bread of Life entered into this world in the house of bread. As the Bread of Life, Jesus fills the hungering and longing of the soul.

Second, Bethlehem was the location in which three soldiers broke through the enemy ranks to get water for King David in 2 Samuel. Upon hearing of the thirst of the king, the three soldiers set out to fetch water in enemy territory. The king was so humbled by the act that he refused to drink the water.

Bethlehem served as a greater source of water. Like the three soldier who broke the enemy lines to get water for David, the Living Water entered into the world to break the enemy lines so that the need of man could be met.

O Little Town of Bethlehem may have seemed small and insignificant, but the city served as the perfect entry point for Jesus. The Bread of Life and the Living Water entered into this world in Bethlehem for the purpose of bringing bread to fill the longing in one’s life and the water that quenches forever. In this Christmas season, may we reflect on the activity in the Little Town of Bethlehem.