ADVENT MONDAY DAY NINE: BETHLEHEM

This is day nine of Advent.  Our word for today is "Bethlehem."

I love whole grain bread.  We often buy nine grain bread from "Neighbor's Mill" here in our town.  It could almost be a meal in itself.  In fact, in Biblical times, bread and wine were often a meal.  Bread was called the "staff of life."

It is not a coincidence that the word "Bethlehen" means "House of Bread."

Luke

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ 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:)

Shortly after Jesus began His ministry He spend forty days being tempted in the wilderness.  One of the temptations was for Him to turn stone into bread, in order to satisfy his physical hunger.  Jesus answer Satan, the tempter, by saying "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God."  Christ was saying, besides physical bread there is a spiritual bread we must have in order to be spiritually healthy.

In John chapter 4 Jesus spent time with a woman at Jacob's well while the disciples went into town to buy some food (bread.)  On their return they showed their concern that the master had not taken nurishment.

^{John 4:31} Meanwhile, his followers were begging him, “Teacher, eat something.”  ³² But Jesus answered, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”  ³³ So the followers asked themselves, “Did somebody already bring him food?”  ³⁴ Jesus said, “My food is to do what the One who sent me wants me to do and to finish his work. (NCV)

The food or bread that nourished Him was doing the work of God.

Christ was not only nourished by spiritual bread, He was the "Bread of Life."

^{John 6:32} Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven; it is my Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven. ³³ God’s bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ The people said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

³⁵ Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.(NCV)

  Christ came into the world to be the bread for our hunger.  Mankind has a hunger for peace, forgiveness, acceptance, hope, and direction.  Christ can satisfy that hunger.  He was heaven's bread that was born in the "House of Bread."

Let me challenge you, when you set down for a meal during this special season and someone passes you those cresent rolls or that fresh baked bread, just remember that the reason for the season is the "Bread of Life."  As you eat that physical bread, let thanks rise from your heart that the Bread of Life has satisfied your spiritual hunger for time and eternity.

And if you have not tasted this bread, the table is spread and the invitation is open to come and dine.  Receive the Christ, our heavenly bread, into your heart and life.

PASS THE BREAD, THE LIVING BREAD