“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[a] 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
The journey of Joseph, Mary and the Unborn Child
I had to purchase two new tires to replace two of the ones on my van. They were bald on the outer rim and making it difficult to stay on the road. I knew I needed to get it ready for our trip to Warren, Minnesota where some of my wife’s family was gathering from afar.
In the course of doing so I was told that two outer tie rod ends also needed to be replace, but they had nothing on their schedule to do that job today. This confirm my suspicion. I knew I didn't want us to be stranded on our drive and wind up missing part of the holiday because we had to wait to have our van serviced. Worse yet I didn’t want to put our family in jeopardy on this trip.
So I drove. I got on 94 and drove to Rogers, Minnesota where I decided to stop and see if the local NTB store would be able to do the work on short notice. They said they would do the work and even matched the price of the local Fleet Farm. I handed them the keys and proceeded to walk 6 blocks up to the Target store in typical Minnesota cold to do some Christmas shopping. It beat sitting in the waiting room all that time.
I must admit that I had been spoiled most of my life with having private transportation that I had forgotten what it must be like for those who have no such transportation, or for those who lived in an earlier time where there was no such thing as motorized transportation.
It was good for me to be a pedestrian this one time.
In my dream that night I dreamt of the journey that Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus had to make to avoid the tyrant, murderous King Herod.
First, how did Mary and Joseph wind up in Bethlehem?? The year Jesus was born was also the year of the census where everyone was require to go to their place of birth so they could be counted. Since Joseph was from a little town of Bethlehem he and his pregnant Mary made the slow journey, without motorized transportation. Imagine, if you will, being pregnant and having to uproot everything and travel on foot to Bethlehem. The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem took 93 miles, over rugged terrain and undoubtedly would take Mary and Joseph several days to make.
In this same period of history was a very evil man who was ‘mad’ about maintaining his power that he would do anything to maintain it, including killing members of his own family. In Wikipedia King Herod had attained the title 'King of the Jews'. A loyal supporter of Hyrcanus II, Antipater appointed Herod governor of Galilee at 25, and his elder brother, Phasael, governor of Jerusalem. He enjoyed the backing of Rome but his brutality was condemned by the Sanhedrin.[16] He definitely didn’t exude the qualities of a ‘servant’ leader.
The first two chapters of Luke described .the Roman census.in those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
Mary was quite far along with her pregnancy and when they reached Bethlehem Joseph went in search for a place to stay for a very pregnant Mary. It wasn’t easy and it seemed that wherever Joseph looked there was no room for them to stay, until they were directed to the only place which was a place where the animals slept.
As the census was proclaimed throughout the Roman Empire, many Jewish families would have needed to travel to Bethlehem during this time and lodged with relatives who lived in the town.
Joseph and Mary probably stayed with Joseph's relatives in Bethlehem, but because of the large influx of people, the house would have been crowded and the kataluma (guest room) was full. Consequently, Joseph and Mary would have been relegated to living in the lower level of the house. It is hard to believe that pregnant Mary would have been turned away from a relative's home in a society that greatly valued familial ties.
Archaeologists have excavated first century homes from the Judean hill country. They have discovered that the upper level served as a guest chamber while the lower level served as the living and dining rooms. Oftentimes, the more vulnerable animals would be brought in at night to protect them from the cold and theft. This sounds strange to many of us, since we wouldn't dream of bringing some of our cattle into the house at night, but even today in some countries of Europe (e.g., Germany and Austria), the farmhouse and the animal quarters are often different parts of the same building.
Herod the great appears in the gospel of Matthew which describes an event known as the massacre of the innocents. According to this account after the birth of Christ three wise men from the east visited King Herod to inquire the whereabouts of the one been born the king of the Jews because they had seen his star in the east and therefore wanted to pay homage. King Herod who was also known as the King of the Jews became alarmed by the prospect of a usurper that he called his chief priests and the scribes of the people and asked where the 'Anointed one had been born. They answered in Bethlehem, citing Micah 5:2. Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem and when they found him they should report back to Herod so that he might go and worship this Christ child.
After the wise men found this child they were warned in a dream not to report back to Herod and Joseph was warn in a dream that Herod intended to kill Jesus.
There were evil men in the days of Christ just as there are evil men today. King Herod was one such man, but God provided protection over Joseph, Mary and the Christ child so nothing could happen to him. He knew that this Christ would one day do away with all of the rituals and sacrifices so all could come to a personal relationship with God and experience eternal life in heaven.
The next time you gather your family in your car for a long road trip and your kids begin to complain with their cries ‘are we there yet’ remind them of the 93 mile journey on foot that Joseph, Mary and the unborn child had to take so that one day they would have the privilege of receiving the free gift of salvation brought to them through this Christ child.
Just as God was with them through every step of their journey He wants to walk with you on whatever journey you may be on. As you celebrate this Christmas holiday with loved ones won’t you take time and thank him for the greatest gift of all, the birth of God’s son, Jesus Christ.
As the census was proclaimed throughout the Roman Empire, many Jewish families would have needed to travel to Bethlehem during this time and lodged with relatives who lived in the town.
Joseph and Mary probably stayed with Joseph's relatives in Bethlehem, but because of the large influx of people, the house would have been crowded and the kataluma (guest room) was full. Consequently, Joseph and Mary would have been relegated to living in the lower level of the house. It is hard to believe that pregnant Mary would have been turned away from a relative's home in a society that greatly valued familial ties.
Archaeologists have excavated first century homes from the Judean hill country. They have discovered that the upper level served as a guest chamber while the lower level served as the living and dining rooms. Oftentimes, the more vulnerable animals would be brought in at night to protect them from the cold and theft. This sounds strange to many of us, since we wouldn't dream of bringing some of our cattle into the house at night, but even today in some countries of Europe (e.g., Germany and Austria), the farmhouse and the animal quarters are often different parts of the same building.
Herod the great appears in the gospel of Matthew which describes an event known as the massacre of the innocents. According to this account after the birth of Christ three wise men from the east visited King Herod to inquire the whereabouts of the one been born the king of the Jews because they had seen his star in the east and therefore wanted to pay homage. King Herod who was also known as the King of the Jews became alarmed by the prospect of a usurper that he called his chief priests and the scribes of the people and asked where the 'Anointed one had been born. They answered in Bethlehem, citing Micah 5:2. Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem and when they found him they should report back to Herod so that he might go and worship this Christ child.
After the wise men found this child they were warned in a dream not to report back to Herod and Joseph was warn in a dream that Herod intended to kill Jesus.
There were evil men in the days of Christ just as there are evil men today. King Herod was one such man, but God provided protection over Joseph, Mary and the Christ child so nothing could happen to him. He knew that this Christ would one day do away with all of the rituals and sacrifices so all could come to a personal relationship with God and experience eternal life in heaven.
The next time you gather your family in your car for a long road trip and your kids begin to complain with their cries ‘are we there yet’ remind them of the 93 mile journey on foot that Joseph, Mary and the unborn child had to take so that one day they would have the privilege of receiving the free gift of salvation brought to them through this Christ child.
Just as God was with them through every step of their journey He wants to walk with you on whatever journey you may be on. As you celebrate this Christmas holiday with loved ones won’t you take time and thank him for the greatest gift of all, the birth of God’s son, Jesus Christ.
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