"AND THOU BETHLEHEM ... OUT OF THEE SHALL COME A GOVERNOR." This fulfilled the prophecy of Micah. When was Jesus born? We do not exactly know, for God has concealed it; but that He was born is most plainly revealed. We know also where He was born, and why He was born. He had eternally existed as God. He was one with and equal to the Father. But He came to be man. He was conceived in Mary's womb, born in Bethlehem, a weak and helpless infant, and yet at the same time the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Deity and humanity united in His person. He took on our nature to take away our sins. He became a man in order to be Saviour of man. He came for just one purpose, to save sinners. This was His object. For this He lived, and laboured, and suffered, and died. He came to be our substitute. He was born once, that we might be born twice. He died once, that we might not experience the second death, but live forever. His birth was the greatest display of condescension which heaven or earth ever witnessed. It was introductory to His obedient life, meritorious death, victorious resurrection, triumphant ascension, and glorious second advent. That first coming in Bethlehem was in weakness and poverty; the second coming will be in Jerusalem with power and great glory.

For Meditation:
God is in our flesh revealed,
Heaven and earth in Jesus join,
Mortal with immortal filled,
And human with divine.