Search This Blog

Was the birthplace of Jesus prophesied?


“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2
            Micah 5:2 contains the clearest prophesy for the birth of Jesus.  It was told 700 years before Jesus’ birth.  Matthew 2:6 quotes this verse directly.  John 7:42 references the same verse.
            The leaders of that time were looking to Bethlehem for the Messiah.  This fact about Jesus threw them off because he lived in Nazareth so they supposed he was born there, not knowing about the census that took him there briefly (John 7:41-42).  They knew the Messiah's “origins” were from old, from ancient times.  Did they understand that those origins were eternal?  Probably not.
            Micah gave other clues that fit the identity of Jesus.
He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:4)
And he will be our peace… (Micah 5:5)
            Jesus clearly presented himself as a good shepherd (John 10:11), his greatness is discussed even today and he is our peace between us and God.