Staying in Bethlehem would have been dangerous for Jesus due to the threat posed by King Herod, who sought to eliminate any potential rivals to his throne, including the newborn "King of the Jews." Herod's fear of losing power led him to order the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem, creating an immediate risk for Jesus's life. Additionally, the political tensions and unrest in the region could have further endangered his family, prompting their flight to Egypt for safety.
In Bethlehem, because it was prophesied that was where He Would Be Born.
There are two different stories of the nativity of Jesus in the New Testament. In Matthew's version, it would have been too dangerous for Joseph and Mary to take Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem, and instead they fled from Bethlehem to Egypt, only attempting to return to Bethlehem after Herod had died. In Luke's version, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem on their way from Bethlehem to Nazareth. At the temple, they met Simeon, who had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.
The Bible does not mention this, but it would have been in Bethlehem because He was of the lineage of David.
If Mary and Joseph had not gone to Bethlehem to be registered, it is plausible that Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would come from that city. This could have altered the narrative of the Nativity story and the significance of Jesus' birthplace in Christian theology. Additionally, the lack of a journey to Bethlehem may have changed the circumstances surrounding Jesus' early life, including the visit of the shepherds and the Magi, which are integral to the Christmas story.
The most practiced religion in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth was Judaism. Bethlehem was a primarily Jewish town and part of the region of Judea, where Jewish religious practices and beliefs were prevalent. Jesus himself was born into a Jewish family and would have been raised in accordance with Jewish customs.
Bethlehem is indeed very cold on 25th december.So people say jesus could not be born as no sheperds would keep their flocks in the open then.
they speak Hebrew in Bethlehem so merry Christmas would be חג מולד שמח but unfortunately i cant pronounce it! :-) חג מולד שמח to you! LOL!
The Star of Bethlehem is what the three wise men followed to find where Jesus Christ was going to be born. If they had not seen this star they would not have known where to go.
According to the history channel, there was another Bethlehem that was only about 5 miles from them . Instead of 30 miles away. Would it make sense that Mary being in the 9th mo. would travel to the closest location to give birth especially on a donkey.
It was foretold by God in the book of Micah, about 730 years before Christ's birth, that the child Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5.2)
The star let the wise men know that Jesus was going to be born in Bethlehem. The Bible said that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem so the star was a way of telling them that the time that He would be born was there. It symbolizes the star that the three wisemen followed to the manger.
Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to register for taxes, as mandated by the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus. This journey fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, as Jesus was born there.