The Most Unlikely Place – December 24, 2025, Christmas Eve
Micah 5:2-4, Luke 2:1-20
December 24, 2025 – Christmas Eve
We sing, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” And for those of you who are keeping track of things that are my favorite, that’s one of my favorite Christmas carols! And it’s what I want us to think about tonight.
Because “little” it was. Some scholars say the population of Bethlehem in those days was only a few hundred people – at most. It was about 6 miles from Jerusalem – close enough to be known, far enough to be ignored. It was politically, economically, and socially, unimportant.
The name “Bethlehem” literally means “House of bread.” But it was in the middle of sheep country. So it’s no coincidence that there were shepherds in the fields, “keeping watch over their flocks by night.” And, as we’ve mentioned in previous weeks, shepherding was a dirty, physically demanding job. Those who did it were thought to be of low social standing. And as Kari reminded us, several weeks ago, shepherds were probably “smelly.”
So, Bethlehem itself was small, insignificant, and easily overlooked. And as we think of the Christmas story, it was a “most unlikely place” for a king to be born. In his prophecy, Micah said, “You, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, are the least among the clans of Judah.”
However! The second part of that verse is, “from you shall come forth one who is to be ruler over Israel.” And that verse was about more than just the birth of Jesus. Because, as you know, Bethlehem was also called the “City of David.” It’s the place Israel’s greatest king was born! And if you remember his story, you know that David himself came from humble origins! He was the least of the sons of Jesse!
As the story goes in I Samuel, (Chapter 16) the Prophet Samuel was sent by God to Bethlehem to find a new king. And one by one, Jesse brought out each of his sons to present to the prophet. But Samuel waved off all of them. And then he asked “Is that it? Are there no more sons.” And Jesse said, “Well, I have one other. He’s out in the field tending the sheep.” “But he’s a nobody!” “Look at my other sons!” But David was brought in, and Samuel anointed him king of Israel! And he was their greatest king, ever!
Well, it wouldn’t have been lost on those people to remember that story, and see a a parallel between that and what was happening now in the story of Jesus. And that parallel wasn’t just about that location – that “little town of Bethlehem.” It was a parallel about those two men, and their rise from humbleness to greatness! And that parallel shouldn’t be lost on us either! It’s reflected in the words we sang.
“Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by”
“Yet(!) in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
We read tonight, the Christmas story from Luke. And as we hear this story – the story of Bethlehem – don’t we hear Linus? Don’t we hear Linus, from “A Charlie Brown Christmas?” Don’t we see him standing on that stage, in the spotlight, holding his security blanket? Don’t we hear his voice, telling us this, the greatest story ever told, about this little town, and the greatest event in history! And does that not add to the humble nature of the story?
There’s another connection there for me. Maybe for you, too. When “A Charlie Brown Christmas” first came out, many of us were just kids. We enjoyed the great story, and we love the wonderful characters – characters that we identified with. Didn’t we? How many Charlie Browns are here tonight? (How many Lucys?) We loved it, didn’t we?
But what we didn’t realize at the time, was how brilliant the music was! And it was, wasn’t it? The subtle jazz harmonies of Vince Guaraldi captured both melancholy and hope with his subtle jazz harmonies, and his wonderful rhythms. And that too, was an unlikely gift, disguised as something simple and familiar, just waiting to be noticed – Like that child in the manger – Like that little town.
Bethlehem was “The Most Unlikely Place. That’s our message for tonight. But it’s not just Bethlehem! It’s us! Yes, God came into this world in the most unlikely place. But then he chose to dwell also in the most unlikely place. He chose to dwell in our hearts!
So, the story of Bethlehem becomes the story of us. For just as God chose a small town instead of a capital – twice; just as he chose a stable instead of a palace; just as he chose a feeding trough instead of a throne; so God chooses to dwell, not in perfect people, not in impressive people, not in hearts that have everything in life “together,” but in hearts that may feel cluttered, crowded, overlooked, unworthy.
“How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his Heaven”
“No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”
Prayer
Eternal God, help us this night to be filled with thoughts of your great love for us. Help us to think of that humble way you chose to enter our world, and to enter our hearts. May we know the blessing we receive when we humble ourselves in the light of this amazing story that we celebrate tonight. We thank you for the wonderful gift of “Immanuel,” “God with us.” Amen.