The Trip to Bethlehem

"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. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn," (Luke 2:1-7 NIV).

Seventy miles. On a donkey. Nine months pregnant.

I can't imagine such a trip. Can you? It makes the whole story even more of a miracle: in addition to the baby conceived by the Holy Spirit. No wonder this story is so beloved. And all of it was in God's plan. Everything happened just as God intended. Even the trip through the countryside was as God planned. Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, in a humble rock cave, was foretold in Micah 5:2. 

This week as we prepare for our Christmas celebrations, may we remember the story of Jesus' birth and let the miracles of that day remain alive and foremost in our hearts and our minds.