WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM?
First, let’s take up the question as to why it was so important that Messiah be born in Bethlehem; so important that God had to use a Roman emperor to call a special census to get Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem at exactly the right time. You say, “Apart from the Prophet’s prediction that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, why was it so important that He be born there?” Even if there were no other reason than the Old Testament Prophet’s prediction, that would be sufficient, because the Bible is 100% correct 100% of the time. You may remember that when the “Wise Men” arrived in Jerusalem saying, “We have seen His star in the East,” the Jewish religious leaders had no trouble remembering the Old Testament prophecy about Him being born in Bethlehem. However, there is another major reason why Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem. Jesus the Messiah was sent by the Father to fulfill a portion of the Law (the Old Testament). Remember in Matthew we are told that Jesus did not come to “abolish” the
