Dr. J. Vernon McGee :: Better Than Bethlehem

Better Than Bethlehem

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:1-3)

The birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem is an event which has more historical significance than has any other single fact of history. His coming made an impact upon the world that is unparalleled. No fact in history of corresponding importance has had such far-reaching results. The rising of the sun on the eastern horizon in the dark dawn is not any more transforming to the earth than was the coming of the One to the stable back of the inn in Bethlehem, He who bears the title of “The Bright and Morning Star” and of “The Sun of Righteousness.”

The coming of Christ ushered in a new day. The calendar of the civilized world was changed by His birth. Before His coming, history moved toward Bethlehem. Since His coming, this stable is the fountain from which time has flowed. A new era was introduced by His presence in the world. A revolution, which is still going on, had its inception at His conception. The social strata was altered.

Literature found a new subject.

Music was given a new and higher note.

Art was colored.

Architecture was revolutionized.

The economic world was affected. The tills of the merchants and the deposits of department stores are ample evidence at this season of the year that His coming has had a material effect upon the world.

The culture of civilization was changed by Christ. His friends and enemies have all agreed that His coming transformed the thinking of mankind, either for weal or for woe.

The stream of civilization was transferred to a different channel by His coming. Gibbon, an agnostic and the author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, listed the introduction of Christianity into the old Roman Empire as a major and contributing feature in the fall of Rome.

A familiar poem expresses this thought in a novel manner:

It may surprise you to hear that the Scripture does not treat His coming at Bethlehem as an isolated event. Although it is important, it is not considered out of proportion to other and comparable events. His coming was a step in the development of God’s plan for redemption of the world.

Actually, Bethlehem is one in a series of appearances of Christ into the world. It does not mark His first coming into the world. By the same token, it is not His last coming to the earth. In order to give full appreciation to Bethlehem, it is necessary to consider His other appearances in relationship to it. For a right perspective, there is need to view the maternity of the stable in the light of the eternity of heaven. It must be remembered that garments of glory were laid aside for swaddling clothes. The motherhood of the manger should be viewed in the light of the fatherhood of God.

In order to get the importance of His birth, let’s withdraw from Bethlehem and consider His coming there as just one event in the panorama of the ages. Let us consider this theme under the following divisions:

(1) Before Bethlehem
(2) Beginning at Bethlehem
(3) Because of Bethlehem