“And you O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a leader who will govern my people Israel.” When Jesus was born the population of Bethlehem was 1,435 people. It was considered a village, not even a city. A wide spot in the road. Blink and you will miss it. One would think that a mighty king would come from Rome, Athens, or at the least Jerusalem. Why Bethlehem? Paul tells the church at Corinth that the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men. As Damon Runyon said, “The race doesn’t always go to the strongest and the fastest, but that sure is the way to bet.” But God picks what the world, in its wisdom, will think is weak. Even money should have been bet on Goliath but it was a kid shepherd who got the KO. How much greater, how much sweeter when the “underdog” pulls off the victory. Nothing worthwhile should have ever come out of Bethlehem. Nothing but one of the greatest kings the world has ever seen and one who was the King of kings, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Prince of Peace. Not bad for a wide spot in the road. Amen.