In which town was Jesus born? That’s not a hard question. That wouldn’t stump anyone on a TV game show. Most five-year-olds could tell you the answer. If you’re still not sure, then ask your neighbor’s kid and, by all means, go to a carol service this Christmas. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The birthplace of our Messiah is no secret.

But consider this, the Messiah’s birthplace was no secret even before Jesus’ birth. In fact, people knew where he’d be born a few hundred years before.

“But you, O Bethlehem…from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Micah 5:2, ESV).

My fourth child was born in the front seat of my car in the parking lot of a hospital in Durban, South Africa. I would’ve never guessed that – not in a million years. But even if I did, my daughter couldn’t have made it happen. She had no choice. And neither did I, for that matter.

Jesus didn’t run around trying to apply all the prophecies of the Old Testament about a Messiah to his life. Most of them were beyond his control. He didn’t manipulate himself into the title, King of Kings. He was born into it.

Bethlehem is more than the birthplace of Jesus; it’s one of the many confirmations that we’re serving the right King.