Q&A Day Questions We Didn't Get To: O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Why was Bethlehem selected as the birth place for Jesus? Obviously there were other inhabitants and countries around the world where he could of been chosen to be born. What is the significance of Bethlehem? Even though Bethlehem was Joseph's ancestral home and they had to return due to Roman taxation policies was there any other significance other than the fact Micah prophesied this?

Why Bethlehem? Yes, God could have chosen anywhere for the Messiah to be born, but as prophesied in Micah 5:2, God chose Bethlehem. And Jesus was born there, first and foremost, to fulfill Scripture.

Are there reasons God chose Bethlehem? Perhaps it speaks to Jesus' humility. He wasn't born in the biggest or most famous city – He was born in a relatively obscure place. This is in the same spirit as God choosing Mary – an unknown, humble girl. God shows His glory often though what looks like humble and unimportant things to us.

Perhaps this also speaks to the meaning of “Bethlehem”. The name means “house of bread”, and bread was pretty significant in Bible times. It was a staple of the diet and used in Temple worship. It was the symbol of God's presence and provision. This could very well be a nod to Jesus being the “bread of life”, the true Bread from heaven. (see John 6:35).

Q&A Day Questions We Didn't Get to: Who Saw the Kingdom?

Luke 9:27 says “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” If we read the Bible straightforwardly, who standing before Jesus in that moment did not taste death?

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this statement is made right before the transfiguration. Peter, James, and John got to see the kingdom (which can be translated “royal splendor”) when Jesus was transfigured before them.

Q&A Day Questions We Didn't Get To: Everlasting Father?

If Jesus is the son of God, why is he described as “Everlasting Father” in Isaiah 9:6?

God is revealed as “one God in 3 persons”. Having lived in time and space my whole life, I honestly don’t know if I am even able to understand. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, John 1:1 says. That statement alone makes no human sense, but it makes sense to God. How can you be with AND was??? I can’t understand it, but I believe it.

Check out the previous blog because the question was similar. But to get an ultra specific answer from one of our elders, check out this sermon from Rich Sprunk. It is laser focused on the very phrase in question:

https://www.harvestpittsburghnorth.org/sermons/2020/12/20/you-will-call-him-my-everlasting-father

Q&A Day Questions We Didn't Get To: Like Father, Like Son.

In Revelation 5, God seated on the throne hands a book to the lamb (Jesus). If Jesus and God are one, how does God hand the book to Jesus?

How do we explain to unbelievers that God and Jesus are one when there are references in the Bible like this where they seem to be at the same place at the same time as two separate beings?

God revealed Himself in the Word as being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three of these Persons are said to be God. And God is said to be One. Like your example from Revelation 5, there are other places in Scripture where Father, Son, and Spirit are all present at the same time. (e.g. Jesus’ baptism, Mark 1:9-11)

I don’t think this can be understood (or explained) by finite minds living in time and space. It’s like a fruit fly explaining how an iPhone works - except the intellectual gap between us and God is infinitely greater than the insect and the phone. God lives outside of time and space - we live inside time and space and only know of existence in those dimensions. So One God as Three Persons but not Three Gods…? I believe it, even if I don’t full understand it.