Main Street Bethlehem will return to Centerpoint Church this December 3, 4 and 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. nightly.
It will take about 30 minutes to walk through the streets, visit with the shop owners, sample some of the food and enjoy the atmosphere of first century Bethlehem.
There will be authentic Roman soldiers ready to enforce the mandatory census and collect the appropriate taxes, anxious and nervous pilgrims making their way to Bethlehem, and eager shop owners who are excited to make extra money from all the additional pilgrims journeying to the city of David.
There will be authentic costumes, live animals, a synagogue with priests and a shofar, shops, the inn and, of course, the stable where Jesus was born. There is no charge and no time limit, so just leave your cares at the door and take a step back into time, and you will leave with a better understanding of what it might have been like to be in the City of David during the birth of our Savior.
Bethlehem, at the time of Jesus’ birth, was a very small village filled with very common and ordinary people. They worked hard to provide for their families, depended on their neighbors for the help and assistance they would need at times during the year, shared with those who were struggling even more than they were, and worshiped regularly in the local synagogue — if Bethlehem was even large enough to qualify for one at that time. They feared God. They obeyed the Law. They lived in anticipation of the coming Messiah.
Politics were not an important part of their lives; their opinion did not matter and no government official cared the least about them. They were subjects of the Roman Empire — good for taxes and labor when called upon — and as long as they obeyed the laws they were left alone — most of the time.
It was to these people that God sent His Son — the poor, plain, common, ordinary, unremarkable, hardworking, God-fearing peasants who had no voice and no control over their national life.
Maybe you can identify with them. Maybe you would agree that even though you live more than 2,000 years after the birth of Christ your life is not significantly different than theirs. Better living conditions, more conveniences, better health care and medicines, unimagined technology — but when you take away all the extras you find that we are in the same situation as the people of Bethlehem. Ordinary people living ordinary lives depending on ordinary friends and neighbors to help us when we can’t do it alone. Fearing God, obeying the laws of our land, working hard, doing all that we can to make ends meet — this is our life.
Though we are worlds apart and centuries later, God sent His Son for us just as much as He did for the people of Bethlehem.
Never forget that Jesus was born as a human for you, lived a sinless life for you, was crucified on a cross for you, rose from the dead for you, returned to heaven to prepare a place for you, and will one day come back to take you to your real home, your eternal home. All you must do is believe that He truly is the Son of God, turn from your sin, accept His free gift of forgiveness and salvation, and surrender your life to Him.
Maybe Main Street Bethlehem would open your eyes to a truth you never realized before; maybe it would answer a few questions that have been bothering you — or maybe it will raise a question or two that one of us would be happy to visit with you about. But, you will never know if you don’t go.
The doors open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3, and will reopen Friday and Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. as well, and remain open until 7:30 p.m., so there is plenty of time to come and experience this one-of-a-kind opportunity.
It could change the way you think of Christmas and deepen your understanding of scripture. It could become a family tradition that kicks off your own Christmas season, starting out with a reminder of the importance of this event in your own personal life.
Don’t miss this incredible chance to travel back into time to experience the village where Jesus Christ was born. It could change your life forever — and for eternity.
Centerpoint Church is located at 2750 Cornerstone Drive. For a preview video and more information, visit www.centerpointpagosa.com.
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