Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

A few years ago, I attended a Gaither Homecoming Christmas show. At one point in the concert, the whole arena sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem” a capella. As all the voices blended beautifully, I recalled a quote I once read: “The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.” In 1868, Philips Brooks capture the depth of the Christmas event when he wrote:

“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the Everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

Into the night and stillness of a small town came the Light of the World that would begin to overcome darkness. Once the ancient prophets had spoken the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah or Isaiah, or God had spoken through the holy books of old, but that night in Bethlehem the only begotten Son of God was born; the Word of the Lord was alive and in the world. The birth of Jesus becomes our own personal gift from God when we open ourselves meekly and humbly to the truth that if we so desire, Christ’s spirit will live in us.

“O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.”

That’s the journey from Bethlehem to your heart and mine!