“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” (Luke 2:1-4 NIV).
What a trip! Nine months pregnant (give or take a week or two) and a 70-mile walk was ahead. Joseph secured a donkey and gave Mary the option of walking or riding. Neither one sounds wonderful when you are big as a barn with baby. Walking is painful or at least uncomfortable at that stage and riding on a donkey wouldn’t be much better.
God had a plan and so Joseph and Mary took off on the long trip, hoping to make it in time for the baby to be born. God’s plan was set long before Mary and Joseph were even born.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times,” (Micah 5:2 NIV).
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Maybe it was the long walk or ride that made Mary’s labor start. Or maybe it was just God’s plan. What a great story for us to remember and share with others. I wonder if Mary shared the story with Jesus when he was growing up? But she didn’t need to; Jesus already knew the whole story.
May the stories of Jesus be told and retold with your family this Christmas and make this season feel perfect.
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