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 (NIV)
The fourth installment in the Star Wars series is called A New Hope, where Luke Skywalker, the son of hero-turned-villain Darth Vader (originally Anakin Skywalker), grows up to become a champion for good. Over the next two installments, Luke battles against Vader, and tells him of the good he still believes is in him, before Vader dies.
We have an infinitely better hope here on earth, in Jesus. The world was a very dark, dark place when Jesus arrived on the scene. King Herod was visited by three magi (astrologers) from the east, inquiring about one who would be born and become King of the Jews, since they had seen his star in the east.
Alarmed, King Herod asked his scribes and chief priests where to find him, and they cited Micah, that he would be born in Bethlehem. Herod sent the magi to Bethlehem and ordered that they report back so that he, too would go to worship him. (Yeah, right!)
But once the magi found Jesus, they were told in a dream to not tell Herod. Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, also was warned in a dream that Herod planned to kill Jesus, and he fled with his family to Egypt. Enraged, King Herod ordered all boys under the age of two in Bethlehem and in the area to be killed.
Joseph and his family waited till Herod’s death to move to Nazareth.
From that dark, dark time was the beginnings of the brightest hope the earth would ever have. This Son came down and was born of a virgin. He was God’s Word incarnate…the flesh embodiment of God’s sacrificial love for us. He would take on the world…and die for it…so that we could live with Him in Heaven for eternity, if only we’d accept Him.
Our hope is in you, Jesus!
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