Christmastide 2024: Father Dwight Longenecker: How do We Know Where Jesus was Born?

A good piece for those with ears to hear. Merry Christmas!

How do We Know Where Jesus Was Born?

We do, in fact, know where Jesus Christ was born. The textual, archeological and historical record is pretty conclusive.

The New Testament tells us Jesus was born in the little village of Bethlehem in Judea about six miles from Jerusalem.

If you visit Bethlehem today the centerpiece of the town is the ancient Church of the Nativity, controlled by the Greek Orthodox Church and for many decades in a ruinous state, it has been carefully restored and is now in the best condition it has been in for a very long time.

As you make your way down the South aisle you enter a couple of chapels that lead through an arch and down an ancient stairway down to the lower level. This lower level is the grotto–the cave that is the spot of the birth of Jesus Christ. On the floor is a metal star that marks the very spot and pilgrims kneel to kiss the place of the birth of the Son of God.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas 2024-Day 3

He was a baby and a child, so that you may be a perfect human. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you may be freed from the snares of death. He was in a manger, that you may be at the altar. He was on earth that you may be in the stars. He had no other place in the inn, so that you may have many mansions in the heavens. He, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that through his poverty you may be rich. Therefore his poverty is our inheritance, and the Lord’s weakness is our virtue.

—Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 2:41-42

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