Christmas in Bethlehem is Cancelled Again: Church of the Nativity

Christmas in Bethlehem is Cancelled Again: Church of the Nativity
For the second year in a row, official celebrations have been cancelled in Bethlehem, the city where Christian tradition says Jesus was born.

This video is Christmas Midnight Mass celebrated at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity 1 day ago 7.9K views

AI Overview

Yes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, according to the biblical gospels of Matthew and Luke:

Location
Bethlehem is a city in the West Bank, part of the Palestinian Territories, and is located about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem.

Time
Jesus was born sometime between 6 BCE and shortly before the death of Herod the Great in 4 BCE.

Parents
Jesus' parents were Mary and Joseph, who were engaged but Joseph was not Jesus' biological father.

Birth story
According to the gospels, Mary and Joseph were turned away from an inn and gave birth to Jesus in a manger in a stable.

Significance
The birthplace of Jesus is considered one of the holiest sites in Christendom and marks the beginning of Christianity.

Church of the Nativity
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is built over a cave that is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. The church is shared by the Roman Catholic, Armenian, and Greek Orthodox churches.

Grotto of the Nativity
The Grotto of the Nativity is located in the Church of the Nativity and marks the traditional site of Jesus' birth.

Rachel's tomb
Rachel's tomb is located near the entrance to Bethlehem and is considered a holy site to the Jewish people.

Since at least the 2nd century AD people have believed that the place where the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, now stands is where Jesus was born. One particular cave, over which the first Church was built, is traditionally believed to be the Birthplace itself.

AI Overview

Yes, according to the Bible, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill a prophecy and symbolize his peaceful nature. Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which describes a humble king riding a donkey or young donkey into Jerusalem:

Matthew 21
Jesus sent two disciples to find a donkey and a colt tied together, and to bring them to him. The disciples laid their cloaks on the animals, and Jesus sat on them. The crowd welcomed Jesus with shouts of "Hosanna" and "Blessed is he who comes in God's name".

Mark 11
Jesus sent two disciples to find a colt tied at a door, and to bring it to him. The disciples untied the colt, and laid their cloaks on it for Jesus to sit on.

John 12
Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said, "Don't be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey's colt".

The choice of a donkey to symbolize Jesus' kingship was significant because donkeys are associated with peace, rather than war. This contrasted with the typical image of a conquering king who would ride a warhorse.