On the second week of Advent we light the Bethlehem Candle, the candle of Peace.

"But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days." Micah 5:2

We remember that Jesus was born to a specific place and time. We remember the historic context, the tyranny of Rome and the longing of Israel to be liberated and experience a restoration of peace; shalom. However, King Jesus was not born in the city of Jerusalem and a throne, but to Bethlehem and a manger. Jehovah Shalom did not to liberate a nation from a political regime, but came to liberate all nations, people, tribes and tongues; every man woman and child from spiritual slavery and bondage. He came to announce the Kingdom, proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free and to herald the year of the Lord’s favor.

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 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: 1-7