As we come to the end of 2025, Christmas invites us to pause and reflect on how God has been good to us. Yet when we look honestly at our current reality—and at the prayer requests within our church—we see how much uncertainty, fear, and exhaustion people are carrying. Life often feels like survival mode.
This was also true at the time of Jesus’ birth.
When Jesus was born, the Israelites were living under Roman oppression. Life was unstable, and survival took priority. Yet they were not without hope. Through Old Testament prophecy, they knew the Messiah would come—born in Bethlehem, from the lineage of David, and within their lifetime.
And yet, Bethlehem was a small, overlooked town. Many of David’s descendants had already left. They were busy building their lives elsewhere, securing work and stability. We know this because when the Roman census forced David’s lineage back to Bethlehem, the town overflowed with people—more people than rooms.
This raises a sobering question: If they truly believed the Messiah would come in their lifetime, wouldn’t Bethlehem have been a city filled with expectation?
Instead, it was nearly forgotten.
The prophecy could not be changed. The Messiah would still come. But by leaving Bethlehem, many distanced themselves from directly participating in God’s redemptive moment. Reality had reshaped their priorities.
And we must ask—are we any different?
We say we believe. We say we are waiting for Christ’s return. Yet when life becomes overwhelming, faith can quietly move to the background. Without realizing it, we “leave Bethlehem”—not physically, but spiritually. We believe from a distance. We wait without readiness.
Christmas reminds us that Jesus has already come once in humility and obscurity. Many knew the prophecies, but few were watching. As we await His second coming, the question is not whether He will return—but where our eyes are fixed while we wait.
As we close this year, may we choose to stay in Bethlehem. May we live with expectation, worship the Anointed One, and fix our hope not on survival, but on Christ—who came, who is with us, and who is coming again.
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Ben