Christmas: The Rose Of Bethlehem

“And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet” (Matthew 2:3-5 – NASB)

There in “Bethlehem,” just as “the prophet” so wrote, was born “the Christ.” King Herod and “all Jerusalem” were “troubled,” but we brethren are not. For we know that in that town of “Bethlehem” was born our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I would ask you to note of the words of a recent Christmas song, one that has described this Blessed Hope, who was born that first Christmas morn, as “The Rose Of Bethlehem.” Note its words, for they are, I believe, a most fitting tribute to our King . . .

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem

With a beauty quite divine

Perfect in this world of sin

On this silent holy night.

There’s a fragrance much like hope

That it sends upon the wind

Reaching out to every soul

From a lowly manger’s crib

There’s a Rose in Bethlehem

Colored red like mercy’s blood

Tis the flower of our faith

Tis the blossom of God’s love

Though its blossom is fresh with youth

Surely what will be He knows

For a tear of morning dew

Is rolling down the Rose

O Rose of Bethlehem

How lovely pure and sweet

Born to glorify the Father

Born to wear the thorns for me.

What beautiful words, that cause me to pause and be in wonder of that precious gift that God sent to this evil, sinful world on a night many seasons past. Surely He can be described as the “Rose of Bethlehem.” Surely He bears a “beauty quite divine.” From that “manger’s crib” comes to each of us “a fragrance much like hope.” Born to die, a “blossom . . . fresh with youth,” yet “He knows” what “will be” . . . and such, “a tear of morning dew is rolling down the Rose.”

For you and I . . . O blessed be the “Rose of Bethlehem,” so “lovely, pure, and sweet.” O what God has done for us . . . I ask you, “Does He not deserve our greatest love, our greatest praise, our greatest thanksgiving, our loving obedience?” Brethren, Christmas is all about “the Rose,” Jesus.

In this Christmas season we have such wonderful songs of our Savior . . . of Christ our Lord . . . who was “born to glorify the Father,” who was “born to wear the thorns for” you and me. Oh praise be to His holy name in this season when we celebrate His birth.

Have a good day brethren . . . and as you walk do so with melodies in your heart that remind you of “the Reason” for the season.