welcome to

bethlehem

Bethlehem is located in the modern-day West Bank Palestinian town, which is about 6 miles south of Jerusalem. It currently has a population of approximately 30,000. Bethlehem was well known as the birthplace and home of King David. Several hundred years after David, the prophet Micah predicted that the Jewish Messiah would be born in a small town near Jerusalem called Bethlehem. In Micah 5:2-3, he said, “2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.”

bethlehem downtown

The Manger Square in Bethlehem downtown can be captured in one panorama. The meaning of Bethlehem in Hebrew is the house of bread, בֵּית לֶחֶם‎ Bet Lechem.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

residential area

While walking around the residential area in Bethlehem, once again Matthew 2:1-6 reminds us about the Jewish Messiah:

¹ In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”