pastor’s Message
A Journey to Bethlehem
by Pastor Lee
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, attracts countless pilgrims every year. It's especially bustling around Christmas Time. Just as it was the first Christmas, finding a room here on Christmas Day is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, in recent years, due to war, Bethlehem has seen few pilgrims. Two thousand years ago, when Jesus was born, Bethlehem was a peaceful and quiet place. But today, Bethlehem seems to lack peace and joy.
Bethlehem has a rich history. It appears as an important city in the Old Testament. Bethlehem was a small village of about 150 people. In the 4th century, when Christianity was recognized as the state religion of Rome, a church commemorating the birth of Jesus was built here, and many pilgrims subsequently visited Bethlehem. Although a small village in Biblical times, Bethlehem was home to many famous figures. David was from here, and it was also the home of Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi. Bethlehem is also the birthplace of Jacob's son Benjamin. It was here that Jesus was born.
Mary's hometown was Nazareth. She married there and conceived there. Therefore, Jesus was destined to be born there. Then, suddenly, Emperor Augustus decreed a census and a census registration, so Mary went to Bethlehem to register, and there, Jesus was born. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was at least three to five days on foot. The most common route from Nazareth to Bethlehem was through the Jezreel Valley to Beth Shean, down the Jordan Valley to Jericho, and then up to Jerusalem. Another route was through Samaria, but this was avoided by the Jews. In any case, any route from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have to pass through Jerusalem.
Bethlehem is only about three to four miles south of Jerusalem, but it has recently been surrounded by high barbed wire, making it difficult to enter without permission from the Israeli military. The wise men traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to worship the baby Jesus. Jacob's wife Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin on her way south, passing through Jerusalem. David was anointed king by Samuel while tending sheep in Bethlehem. Thus, the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem is steeped in history. Mary and Joseph also traveled this route to Bethlehem and gave birth to Jesus.
In Bethlehem, you'll find the Church of the Nativity. This church was built in 339 A.D. by Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. It was destroyed in the early 6th century, then rebuilt, and later rebuilt during the Crusades, leaving the basic structure intact until it stands today. The entrance to this church is quite unique. Because the entrance was very small, only about four feet high, everyone has to bend down to enter. Even kings and anyone else have to humble themselves before Jesus. Therefore, this is called the Door of Humility.
The Bible only states that Jesus was born in a manger, but it doesn't specify where the manger was. According to church tradition, the birthplace of Jesus was a cave. Origen, a 3rd-century historian, stated that the house where Joseph and Mary stayed was a cave. Helena, who built the Church of the Nativity, is said to have built it over the cave, which was sacred to Christians at the time as the birthplace of Jesus. I once visited this Church of the Nativity and was able to see a grotto. Beneath the church, a star is engraved at the supposed birthplace of Jesus.
In the first century, many Jews used grottoes as dwellings. Because Israel is mostly made up of limestone, small caves were abundant. Even today, people living in this type of dwelling can be found near Bethlehem. Back then, people dug grottos and lived inside them. This was because they were warm in winter, cool in summer, and had a moderate humidity. The grottoes were divided into two sections, with the upper section for people and the lower section for animals. According to church tradition, the manger where the baby Jesus lay was a manger located in the area where animals were kept.
Merry Christmas!
by Pastor Lee
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, attracts countless pilgrims every year. It's especially bustling around Christmas Time. Just as it was the first Christmas, finding a room here on Christmas Day is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, in recent years, due to war, Bethlehem has seen few pilgrims. Two thousand years ago, when Jesus was born, Bethlehem was a peaceful and quiet place. But today, Bethlehem seems to lack peace and joy.
Bethlehem has a rich history. It appears as an important city in the Old Testament. Bethlehem was a small village of about 150 people. In the 4th century, when Christianity was recognized as the state religion of Rome, a church commemorating the birth of Jesus was built here, and many pilgrims subsequently visited Bethlehem. Although a small village in Biblical times, Bethlehem was home to many famous figures. David was from here, and it was also the home of Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi. Bethlehem is also the birthplace of Jacob's son Benjamin. It was here that Jesus was born.
Mary's hometown was Nazareth. She married there and conceived there. Therefore, Jesus was destined to be born there. Then, suddenly, Emperor Augustus decreed a census and a census registration, so Mary went to Bethlehem to register, and there, Jesus was born. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was at least three to five days on foot. The most common route from Nazareth to Bethlehem was through the Jezreel Valley to Beth Shean, down the Jordan Valley to Jericho, and then up to Jerusalem. Another route was through Samaria, but this was avoided by the Jews. In any case, any route from Nazareth to Bethlehem would have to pass through Jerusalem.
Bethlehem is only about three to four miles south of Jerusalem, but it has recently been surrounded by high barbed wire, making it difficult to enter without permission from the Israeli military. The wise men traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to worship the baby Jesus. Jacob's wife Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin on her way south, passing through Jerusalem. David was anointed king by Samuel while tending sheep in Bethlehem. Thus, the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem is steeped in history. Mary and Joseph also traveled this route to Bethlehem and gave birth to Jesus.
In Bethlehem, you'll find the Church of the Nativity. This church was built in 339 A.D. by Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. It was destroyed in the early 6th century, then rebuilt, and later rebuilt during the Crusades, leaving the basic structure intact until it stands today. The entrance to this church is quite unique. Because the entrance was very small, only about four feet high, everyone has to bend down to enter. Even kings and anyone else have to humble themselves before Jesus. Therefore, this is called the Door of Humility.
The Bible only states that Jesus was born in a manger, but it doesn't specify where the manger was. According to church tradition, the birthplace of Jesus was a cave. Origen, a 3rd-century historian, stated that the house where Joseph and Mary stayed was a cave. Helena, who built the Church of the Nativity, is said to have built it over the cave, which was sacred to Christians at the time as the birthplace of Jesus. I once visited this Church of the Nativity and was able to see a grotto. Beneath the church, a star is engraved at the supposed birthplace of Jesus.
In the first century, many Jews used grottoes as dwellings. Because Israel is mostly made up of limestone, small caves were abundant. Even today, people living in this type of dwelling can be found near Bethlehem. Back then, people dug grottos and lived inside them. This was because they were warm in winter, cool in summer, and had a moderate humidity. The grottoes were divided into two sections, with the upper section for people and the lower section for animals. According to church tradition, the manger where the baby Jesus lay was a manger located in the area where animals were kept.
Merry Christmas!