The Place and Time of Birth - March 20, 2019 - Lent Midweek 3 - Text: Micah 5:2; Dan. 9:25

Again this week we have two texts. Our first text is from Micah chapter five; 2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Micah 5:2). And our second text is from Daniel chapter nine, 25Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time (Daniel 9:25). These are our texts.
 

Just a reminder as we get started that this year during the Lenten Season and through to Easter Sunrise and Easter morning we are looking at some of the prophecies of the Old Testament which have their fulfillment in the New Testament in the person and work of Jesus. Last week we moved ahead and looked at another reiteration of the promise of a Savior and another narrowing of the line of promise being the line of Judah. Today we look a the place of Jesus’ birth as well as God’s perfect timing of His birth.
 

When it comes to prophecy and fulfillment we remember that a true prophet is one whose prophecies come true. One who prophecies and their prophecies do not come true is one who is not a true prophet. When it comes to the One who was to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Savior, that One is the Savior who fulfills not one but all the prophecies which leads us to Jesus who is the only One to fulfill all prophecies. So, one prophecy concerning the coming Savior was that of the place of His birth, that He would be from Bethlehem, “2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2).
 

As we talked about last week, Bethlehem was a city in the land allotted to the tribe of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. Bethlehem was also the city from which one was born a ruler over Israel and in particular it was known as the city of David, the second earthly king of Israel.
 

Further, from Bethlehem would be One whose coming was from of old and again, as we talked about before this one from of old means God. Jesus is God taking on human flesh, being born in the city of kings, the city of David, Bethlehem. Yet, Jesus was not born as an earthly king, but a heavenly king.
 

The place of birth is important and so is the time of birth and we have a prophecy concerning the time of birth being after the restoration of Jerusalem which was after the exile as we heard in our second reading from Daniel, “25Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time” (Daniel 9:25). This prophecy possibly has to do with the decree of Cyrus in 538 B.C. to allow for the Israelite exiles to return to rebuild Jerusalem.
 

The seven weeks of this prophecy are not seven literal weeks but a short period of time, perhaps the time of the completion of the Second Temple. The fact that Israel was in exile and had been disbursed to various parts of the world as punishment for their apostasy is proof of their loss of the conditional earthly promises of the covenant and a reminder that the main part of the covenant was the spiritual part pointing to a spiritual heavenly Savior and King, Jesus.
 

That the building was “built with the squares and moat” perhaps is a reference to the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall by Nehemiah. You might recall if you have read Ezra and Nehemiah that both these minor prophets worked to restore Jerusalem and the temple so that any freed exiles might return.
 

With prophecy comes fulfillment. As we have heard many times, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the city of David, this is undeniable historic fact. Which is important as well. Perhaps we have not said enough about the fact that the Christian faith and the Christian Church are grounded in actual factual history. Other religions, cults and sects are founded in mythology and fantasy, but our faith is grounded in actual history. Disprove the history and disprove the Christian faith. Having said that we know that neither archeology nor any history has ever invalidated anything of the Christian faith.
 

Moving on, as the prophecy foretold, so Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem which was a town in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. Again, another prophecy of many fulfilled by this one man, Jesus.
 

Jesus was born at just the right time. And about this timing, indeed God’s timing is perfect. Someone once said that God gave us the Old Testament in view of the New Testament, meaning that God knew what He was going to do in the New Testament and aligned the events of the Old Testament, especially their timing in line with His fulfillment. So, as part of the perfect timing of God, Israel had come back from exile so that they were in Jerusalem.
 

Not only where the children of Israel back in Jerusalem the temple had also been rebuilt. Thus, Jesus is seen in and around the temple. Jesus speaks of the temple yet in a way of referring to His body, His death and resurrection.
 

Yet, even though they were back in Jerusalem, the children of Israel were not in charge, but were being ruled by the Romans. As many times in their history they were under siege and ruled by others so, even at the time of Jesus the Romans ruled the day.
 

As we have said over the past two weeks and before, many in Israel were continually looking for a social/political savior, one who would come and start a revolt and over throw the Roman government. Jesus was not the social/political Savior some sought. Jesus came to fulfill the spiritual part of the covenant. Jesus came to fulfill God’s demand of perfection. He came to pay the price for man’s sin so that we might have forgiveness and an eternal inheritance and home in the kingdom of heaven.
 

So, our Lenten preparation continues. Just as God did not immediately fulfill the promise made in the Garden of Eden, you might remember there was almost a thousand years from the time of the garden to the great flood. And then there was the episode of the Tower of Babel and the confusion of languages so that people disbursed to places around the world. So, God took time to prepare to fulfill His promise.
 

At the time of Jesus the world, social, political, etc., was at just the right place. The children of Israel were back in Jerusalem from exile. The temple had been rebuilt. There were those of Israel that were continually hoping for a spiritual Savior even among those that were hoping for a social/political savior.
 

Jesus came as the suffering servant, as Isaiah calls Him, to atone for the sins of the world. Jesus came to do what God promised in the Garden of Eden, to crush Satan, to pay the price for sin, the cost of death, physical and eternal spiritual death. Jesus came not to be served but to give His life in exchange for our lives. God’s demand on Adam and Eve, on His people Israel and on all people was perfection and since they could not be perfect and we cannot be perfect, Jesus was born in perfection, being truly God, to live perfectly for us in our place. Jesus took our sins and all sin and paid the complete once and for all price for our sins.
 

As we continue to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection for our forgiveness and life we do so remembering God’s great love for us. It was because of us and our sin and for us and because of God’s great love for us and for all His creation that He gave His life. Greater love can no one have than to lay down their life for another and that is what Jesus did for us. And now He pours out His love and forgiveness on us through the means He has given, His means of grace; His Holy Word, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution and His Holy Supper. As He pours out on us and lavishes us with His good gifts and blessings our desire is to be when and where His gifts are given out. We just gotta have more.
 

As we continue looking at prophecies and fulfillment we continue to see how the odds of one person fulfilling more than one, even two or three is great, and yet Jesus fulfilled all, thus proving He is the Savior. Thanks be to God for Jesus, for His life, death and resurrection because of His great love for us so that we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. To Him be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.