"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2).
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'" (Luke 2:10-11).
From Bethlehem (my family’s original city before they moved to Jerusalem, and the place where my ministry center is now, the very town where the Savior was born) I want to reflect on the miracle of Christmas. This season serves as a powerful reminder that light shines brightest in the darkest moments. Though small and humble, Bethlehem was chosen by God to host the greatest event in human history: the incarnation, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Bethlehem remains a symbol of hope, resilience, and God’s enduring promise.
Today, Bethlehem remains a symbol of hope, resilience, and God’s enduring promise. We face challenging days as the war in Gaza weighs heavily on our hearts, and the situation in the West Bank is deteriorating, bringing pain and uncertainty. But in this season, we are reminded of God’s Word in John 1:5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
The same light that entered our world over 2,000 years ago continues to shine through us, His church—the Palestinian church—represented by the indigenous Christian Palestinians who have been living here for centuries, enduring all hardships, including the latest ones: the Israeli occupation, the apartheid wall around Bethlehem, and many more atrocities committed against us, which include land confiscation and forced displacement.
Even when our situation seems hopeless, God calls us to be resilient.
Our calling as Christians is clear: despite these hardships, we hold fast to the hope that Christmas reminds us of. The angels proclaimed peace and good news to all people, and we are commissioned to share this message. Even when our situation seems hopeless, God calls us to be resilient. We are not just surviving—we are thriving in faith, witnessing to our people and the world about the love, salvation, peace, and hope in Jesus our Lord.
For us at Bethlehem Bible College, our city, the birthplace of the Savior, is also a sending place. From here, the light of Jesus has gone forth to the ends of the earth. And in these days, we recommit to this mission. We will continue to send out workers to the harvest, carrying the message of the Gospel to a hurting and broken world. Though we are surrounded by conflict and suffering, our hope does not waver. Christ’s birth assures us that God is with us—Immanuel—and his purposes cannot be stopped.
The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." The hardships we face today, whether in Bethlehem, Gaza, or anywhere in our country, are temporary. The promise of Jesus’ return and the restoration of all things gives us the strength and hope to persevere and experience what we Palestinian people call "Sumud" (resilience and endurance).
This Christmas, we, the community of Bethlehem Bible College and the Christian community we represent, want to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Light of the World. We want to reflect his light to those around us: comforting the hurting, loving the broken, and proclaiming peace where there is strife. Let the light that shone from the manger in our city, Bethlehem, continue to shine through us, bringing hope to our families, our churches, and the nations.
Christ has come, Christ is with us, and Christ will come again!
From Bethlehem to the world, we declare: Christ has come, Christ is with us, and Christ will come again! This is our hope, and it is this hope that we carry forth into the new year.
I pray this season to our God:
Heavenly Father, in this season of Christmas, we thank you for sending Jesus, the Light of the World. Even in the midst of conflict, fear, and pain—despite the war in Gaza, despite the atrocities we face, and the humiliation of our people—we want to trust that your light cannot be overcome. Give us the strength as Palestinian Christians to be resilient, to have courage, and to continue to witness about your truth. Give us hearts to love as you love, to forgive as you forgive.
Use us, Lord, to carry your light from Bethlehem to the nations.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Originally published by Bethlehem Bible College. Republished with permission.
Reverend Dr. Jack Sara is the President of Bethlehem Bible College. Born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jack studied at Bethlehem Bible College after committing his life to Christ and his teachings. Jack is an ordained minister with Evangelical Alliance Church in the Holy Land where he still maintains an overseeing role with the leadership of the churches. He worked extensively in the areas of peace & reconciliation and is a consultant for the World Evangelical Alliance for the Middle East & North Africa.
