{C} Rev. C.J. Barry Kentner
THERE IS A LINE BETWEEN TRADITION AND TRUTH … AND IT’S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THEM. SCRIPTURE TELLS US, AND HISTORY CONFIRMS, THAT THE SACRED LAMBS USED FOR SACRIFICE IN THE TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM WERE RAISED AT BETHLEHEM, A SHORT TEN KILOMETERS FROM JERUSALEM’S SHEEP GATE. WE KNOW THERE WAS A GATE TO BRING SHEEP INTO THE CITY BECAUSE IN 455 B.C., THE HIGH PRIEST ELIASHIB AND HIS SONS REBUILT IT, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF NEHEMIAH
ABOUT 1300 B.C., WE FIND A WEALTHY FARMER AT BETHLEHEM NAMED BOAZ WHO BECOMES THE HERO IN ONE OF THE GREAT LOVE STORIES OF THE BIBLE, WHEN AS KINSMAN – REDEEMER, HE PROTECTS THE LIFE OF HIS COUSIN NAOMI, AND MARRIES HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, RUTH: GIVING HER A PLACE IN THE ANCESTRY OF JESUS. YEARS LATER, A GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF BOAZ, NAMED JESSE, IS FARMING THE LAND AT BETHLEHEM AND HIS YOUNGEST SON DAVID LOOKS AFTER SHEEP. PERFECT UNBLEMISHED SHEEP ARE BRED AND RAISED FOR SACRIFICES AT THE TEMPLE.
THAT IS TRUTH, NOW HERE IS TRADITION. AFTER MANY YEARS, RULING ROME REQUIRED A CENSUS, AND EVERYONE HAD TO REGISTER AT THEIR FAMILIES ANCESTRAL BIRTHPLACE. JOSEPH, A CARPENTER OF NAZARETH, IN THE DIRECT LINEAGE OF BOAZ, JESSE, AND DAVID GO BACK TO BETHLEHEM WITH HIS EXPECTANT WIFE, MARY. SHEEP ARE STILL BEING RAISED IN BETHLEHEM.
THE CRUSH OF THE CROWD RETURNING TO REGISTER AND PAY THEIR TAX HAS STRESSED THE
AVAILABLE SHELTER….BUT A SYMPATHETIC INN KEEPER POINTS OUT A STABLE, BUILT INTO A CAVE. COULD IT BE; THAT THE STABLE-CAVE WHICH SHELTERED JOSEPH AND MARY, WAS ON LAND WHICH FORMED THE ANCESTRAL FARM. THE FARM WHERE BOAZ MET RUTH, THE FARM WHERE JESSE WATCHED HIS YOUNG SON DAVID ANOINTED TO BE A KING, WITH A HEART AFTER GOD’S.
THE FARM WHERE THE ETERNAL KING OF ISRAEL WATCHED SHEEP…PERFECT SHEEP BRED FOR SACRIFICE! DID MARY BIRTH THE SON OF GOD….THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB FOR OUR SINS ON THE VERY SAME FARM THAT JOSEPH’S ANCESTORS WORKED? THE FARM FROM WHICH A FUTURE KING OF PHYSICAL ISRAEL TENDED SHEEP RAISED FOR SACRIFICE? IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE BIRTH OF THE PERFECT LAMB OF GOD…OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST….COULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON LAND THAT WAS DEDICATED TO THE RAISING OF LAMBS WITHOUT BLEMISH TO BE SACRIFICED; AS HE WAS FOR US? TRADITION, OR TRUTH…FACT OR FABLE….. THAT IS THE TALE OF THE BETHLEHEM STABLE.
The night was filled with stars,
And the bleating of the sheep,
As shepherds kept their watch
And
Mary tried to sleep
Then the miracle of birth occurred
And Angel song was all the shepherds heard.
Yes Jesus left His Majesty
Poured out all His Glory
And in the weakness of a baby’s cry…
Left Heaven, took a Human form,
And came to earth to die
Barry was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1935 and schooled to Grade 10, but continued educational pursuits until age 65 when he graduated from Open Word Bible College. He started working for Spitzer and Mills advertising in 1952, then moved to the Broadcast arena where for 62 years he was News Director and Talk Show Host at several Canadian Radio Stations. He was one of 5 consultants who managed to lobby for Christian Radio in Canada, and in the last five years before retirement, he was News Director of Canadian Altar.Net News, a network of 25 Christian Radio Stations across Canada from Charlottetown PEI to Campbell River BC.
Barry Kentner is a semi-retired pastor.
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