The Lighting Of The Global Christmas Tree Is Significant
After three years, Bethlehem is finally publicly celebrating Christmas again, and the joy feels brighter than ever.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come.” Once again, Bethlehem lights its Christmas tree in all its glory. The celebrations have returned, filling the city with a magic you will not find anywhere else.
Christmas in Bethlehem is iconic. It is the global center of Christmas. Sure, Germany is a winter wonderland of celebrations, and New York City has Times Square. But, there is no doubt that the Holy City of Bethlehem is the epicenter of Christmas.
Bethlehem Is Special
As the birthplace of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago in this little town of Judea, surrounded by war and tension, the humble stable where Christ was born has become the place of celebrations again. Here is what the Apostle Luke said in his gospel:
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7, ESV)
Christmas hope has returned to Israel and Bethlehem is once again in the global eye as it comes alive with people from all over the world. Festive decorations of Christmas, all kinds of booths, many Christmas lights, and a 50 foot Christmas tree. After two years of war in the Middle East, this Christmas has put a different explosion of sound and lights into the sky with singing and a tree lighting ceremony that returned Christmas to its birthplace.
With a renewed tree-lighting ceremony in Manger Square, Bethlehem has revived its public celebration for the first time since the conflict between Israel and Gaza began two years ago — a symbol of resilience, hope and faith for the little town in Judea.
“Love and blessings to the whole Body of Christ—to all believers and seekers around the world who celebrate, whether publicly or privately, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Pastor Naheem Nasir from Good Samaritan Church.
“My prayer is that this year the Lord fills your heart with joy, peace, and true happiness, in Jesus’ name,” the Pastor encouraged the crowd.
Mayor Maher Canawati, who is a born again Christian, said the city has endured “two bad years of silence with no Christmas, no jobs, and no work.” Standing with thousands of people and media outlets broadcasting the Christmas celebration worldwide, the Mayor insisted Christmas “should never be stopped or cancelled” and called this year’s tree “the light of hope for us.”
The Impact On The Region
With several thousand filling Manger Square as the tree was lit, applause filled the skies in the center of the Middle East reminding the world that the Savior of the world still brings hope and peace. Even in the darkest times and with the conflict surrounding this region, as tourists returned, the streets are filled with Christmas greetings and joy to the world. People from all over the world stood next to the locals and held hands smiling and singing by the towering Bethlehem Christmas tree of peace.
The tree was crowned by a glowing star shining through the darkness of the past two years of war and illuminated for a two-hour event near the Church of the Nativity. Thousands of Israeli’s, Palestinians, and Arabs from across the region gathered to see the global celebration cheering as the lights were turned on.
As I stood in the streets of Bethlehem talking with Mayor Canawati, I could sense the excitement of the moment that he and the city have anticipated for more than two years. As the tree was lit, the region was reignited with shouts of joy that seemed so far away before this evening. The crowd that filled Manger Square once again saw a shining light over their city reminding the world that even in the darkest of times, hope finds its way back at Christmas.
Even though Christians are the minority in Bethlehem now, somehow the lighting of the Bethlehem Christmas tree feels like a symbol of hope. Seeing all of the tourists and the locals together gives hope that an economic and a spiritual recovery is coming with the return of Christmas.
As I walked through the city of Bethlehem you can feel the prayers of revival and awakening lifted unceasingly over this city and this region. And, coming on the heels of this powerful night of Christmas celebration, the lighting of the global Christmas tree in Bethlehem was a fitting backdrop for those prayers of revival and awakening in Bethlehem and the whole Middle East.