CHRIST MAS 2007 FROM BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL
Dear believers in the Messiah Yeshua (=Jesus),
I am privileged to write this Christmas meditation from Beit
Shemesh, Israel. Beit Shemesh is of the tribe of Dan. When
pilgrims came to Israel from Jaffa they were in Dan and to go to
Jerusalem they naturally passed through Dan traveling eastward.
That route brought them to and through the shefaelah (=the
lowlands, translated ‘vale’ in KJV of Deut 1:7) on their way to
Jerusalem. Then the pilgrims came unto the Mountains of Judah. The
modern day pilgrims who arrive at Ben Gurion airport near Lydda
(Acts 9:32, probably a Greek form of Lod) will come the same route
if their first stop in Israel is in Jerusalem. I am reminded of Jn
4:3-4. This speaks of Jesus. ‘3 He left Judaea, and departed
again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria.’ For
the soul of a person to get to Heaven the person must pass through
Yeshua The Messiah. There is not another way. John 14:6 'Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.’ Here lies one aspect of the uniqueness
and importance of Yeshua Hamashiac (=The Messiah). In the light of
the greatness of Him as the only Savoir it is not surprising that
there is opposition to remembering Him. Even observing Messiah’s
birthday is opposed. It is a fact that the Messiah became
incarnate. The Incarnation is God coming to earth in human form.
(Collins) When He was born I do not know. But I know where He was
born. He was born in Bethlehem of Judah. It was so prophesied
about 700 years before He came by Micah. Micah 5:2
‘But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old,
from everlasting.’ I was blessed this CHRISTmas season to be able
to quote this verse to several Jews. Among them is my neighbor
David who recently lost his brother. It is not possible to prove
today that you are from the family of David. In Daniel 9 the time
of the coming of the Messiah is given. The time for the coming of
the Messiah of Israel has passed. Yeshua is the Messiah. Is He
your God & Savoir? Luke 2:10-11 ‘And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.’
On Dec 22, 07 I had the unique privilege to walk in Bethlehem. I
gave out Arabic literature and 3 Arabic daily devotional calendars.
I visited the Beracah Church property. I visited the graves of some
I had known as Miss May Ladah who led the House of Hope then a
mission to the blind and John Ellis who was run over while riding
his bicycle in Jerusalem. I was impressed with the Christian
testimonies of these two and was glad to be reminded of them. I saw
also the grave of Thomas Alexander Lambie. He founded 8 hospitals
in his Christian ministry, the last being Beit el Beracah south of
Bethlehem. I visited Adnan who is living on the church property.
He remembered me. We had good fellowship finishing in prayer. I
then went to the CHRISTmas dinner of the Baptist Church of Bethlehem
pastored by Naim Khoury. I have known Naim since his high school
days. His son Stephen was helping at the dinner and he is a pastor
in Beit Sahour a suburb of Bethlehem. There was Christmas music and
two sermons. I was with Joan Davenport and a blind believing Arab
friend Subha. Jesus Christ was exalted. There were about 600
there! I gave some booklets in Arabic to the waiters.
The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all. May God the
Holy Spirit enable each of us to proclaim this message of salvation
to many in the New Year of 2008.
Is 7:14, 9:6-7
A FRUIIFUL AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!
Michael David Bentley
