Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you absolutely did not want to be in? Perhaps it was some kind of a journey in life that you didn’t want to take—a job change, a move, a relational upset—but life seemed to be pushing you in that direction whether you liked it or not. It was the kind of a journey you were forced to take … against your will! How in the world would life ever seem normal again?
I believe that’s what the holy couple must’ve felt like when they were forced to take a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem … when Mary was just about to deliver! Here’s today’s part of the Christmas story:
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. – Luke 2:1-7 (NLT)
As we had seen earlier, it was probably during Mary’s visit to Elizabeth in Ein Karem that Joseph visited from nearby Bethlehem. It was more than likely then that Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant. We can imagine how Joseph felt … and we’re reminded through that part of the story that God is often at his best work in times when we’re confused, broken, or wounded…
When Joseph returned to Bethlehem—though he was deeply hurt and planned on divorcing Mary quietly, an angel of the Lord showed up and changed his mind. Shortly after this celestial visit, Joseph likely would have announced to his family that he and Mary were expediting the wedding and, thus, would be traveling to Nazareth soon (brides getting married in their hometowns). So, it was there while they were in Nazareth … for both the wedding and the birth of their child (Mary’s mother would likely have been her midwife) that they received news from the Roman government about a journey that they certainly did not necessarily want to make. But, the unexpected in their lives happened anyway … and their journey began…
Folks, where was their HOPE? Sometimes, HOPE is all we have to hang on to … but it was enough for our holy couple during some of their most challenging days! Let’s take a look today at the HOPE they had; first, let’s look at…
HOPE IN THE RELATIONSHIP! Verse 4 gets us started in understanding this relationship: “And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.” Many times, HOPE is found in the midst of a change of plans… They’d expected to stay in Nazareth … for the wedding … and at least until the child was born, but God had other plans…
What we may least expect, God already knows about… Joseph & Mary both had to learn to trust God in the midst of this unexpected adventure they found themselves on; what they discovered was that … where they placed their HOPE really did matter!
Scripture tells us that Mary was one ‘who was now obviously pregnant.’ (In other versions, it simply says that she was ‘great with child.’) But, how could a pregnant woman—almost ready to deliver—make a journey like this? Well, the Roman government wasn’t really interested in a no-account Jewish couple about to have a baby; all they were interested in was assessing taxes. So, the journey began; and this young couple returned to the husband’s hometown to be counted…
During many funeral messages, in speaking of Jesus coming to get us and take us to where he is, I use the illustration of being a young child and going somewhere with my parents. It’s kind of like when I went to church camp for the first time; I didn’t know a soul there. Even though I was extroverted even then, it was a bit scary going to new places where I didn’t know anyone. But, I’ve got to tell you, if my mother or father was there to hold my hand during those transitions in life … I WAS ABOUT THE BRAVEST PERSON IN THE WORLD (as long as they were there anyway)! Where we place our HOPE matters, folks. I had to place my HOPE in my parents growing up many times … and it paid off. Everything seemed to be O.K. as long as dad or mom was there…
And, it wasn’t any different with Joseph and Mary. God had spoken to both of them. Their heavenly Father had been at their side for quite some time now; they knew that. So, when unexpected adventures continued to pop up in their lives, even without a complete understanding of what was going on, they put their HOPE in their heavenly Father. Everything was going to be O.K. as long as God was there!
And that’s kind of what Christmas is all about: Immanuel, God with Us! God sent his son, Jesus, in human form … so that we would know that He is with us … always! And no matter what journey we are on—perhaps a journey not entirely of our own choosing, we need to know that God is there … and place our HOPE in him—hope to get through the journey, hope for God’s strength on the journey, and hope to still have a faith when the journey is done! Our HOPE, folks, needs to be grounded in our relationship with the Heavenly Father too (and we do that through a faith in Christ)!
So, in this part of the Christmas story, we can certainly see HOPE IN THE RELATIONSHIP; and because of that HOPE, Joseph and Mary could also have…
HOPE IN THE JOURNEY (ITSELF)! Verses 5-7 help fill out the story: “He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” I like that translation … and I’ll speak to that in just a moment…
Let me remind you though, folks, that this was a very difficult physical journey; but, many times HOPE is found in the midst of a change of direction in our lives; know that for Mary and Joseph… This journey, folks, was not routine! (Very seldom is there anything ‘routine’ when God does the calling…)
What you may not know is that the route they probably took to Bethlehem at that time … was not routine! Let me show you, briefly, on a map of first century Israel…
There were two possible routes Joseph and Mary might have taken to Bethlehem: the first (RED–see above) route would be the traditional route of Jews going from Galilee in the north to Judea (Jerusalem/Bethlehem) in the south. This route would have avoided the land of the Samaritans, but would have added about 30 miles or 2 days to an already tough journey…
The second route would have been a more direct route (if you would draw a straight line between Nazareth in Galilee–north–and Bethlehem in Judea–south). It would’ve taken them due south from Nazareth through the Jezreel Valley and along the road known as ‘The Way of the Patriarchs.’ This route, though tougher terrain, would have meant at least 2 fewer days on the road. A few other reasons they might’ve taken the more direct route would be:
During times of heavy travel, it’s been noted that it wasn’t unusual for Jews to go through Samaria … to avoid “traffic jams” (and the taking of the census would have caused a great deal of traffic on the normal road)…
Also … Jesus’ own attitude toward the Samaritans (Woman at the Well & Good Samaritan) had to be learned somewhere. I believe he learned it from his earthly parents, which means they would’ve had no problem traveling through Samaria.
So, folks, theirs was not a typical journey for a Jewish family; their journey was not routine! Yet, with their HOPE placed firmly in their Heavenly Father, they found HOPE in the journey, too!
Also, their stay in Bethlehem was not routine! We all know how the traditional story goes: Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem, and Joseph, being a typical guy, forgot to call ahead and make reservations at the local inn. The city’s full of visitors due to the census, so there ends up being no room at the inn. So, the innkeeper, feeling sorry for this expectant couple, offers them the only space he has—in his stable—and that’s where the baby ends up being born. That’s the version of the story that most of us have grown up with. But is that exactly right? Some of it, yes, however…
Do you remember us talking about Joseph being from Bethlehem? So why would he seek lodging at a motel … if his family lived there? And folks Bethlehem was only about 400 people at the time. Would they have even had an inn?
The Greek word translated in Luke’s Gospel is kataluma, which more accurately means ‘guest room.’ (It’s the same word used in the Gospels when Jesus is looking for a room to have the Last Supper.) So, here’s how I think it probably came down:
In a first-century home in this region, there would be a central room that served as kitchen and living area. Off of that room would be sleeping quarters for the parents. Typically, there would be a guest room where the children slept (and when guests came, the children would sleep elsewhere). This room was the kataluma. Then, behind the home was the garage (cave) that served as a stable…
Apparently, others in Joseph’s family had arrived in Bethlehem for the census ahead of them … and they got the guest room first. So, there was no room in the kataluma. A couple of other thoughts might be these:
To offer them privacy in the birthing process, the family may have decided that the stable was the best place for this to happen—fixed up, of course…
Because the birthing process would have caused Mary, and anything she touched, to be unclean for a time, this may be another reason the family wanted to move her out of the house…
So, their stay in Bethlehem … was anything but routine! But God, folks, was right there in the middle of all of it… Joseph and Mary, being on a journey that they did not necessarily want to be on, found HOPE in their relationship with the Heavenly Father … and thus they found HOPE in the journey he allowed in their lives, too…
Know this during this Advent season when we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of God’s Son, Jesus: We too can find HOPE IN THE JOURNEY itself, if we’ll but place our HOPE in the One who journeys with us!
Like Mary and Joseph, all of us find ourselves forced to take journeys we don’t wish to take. These journeys are not from God directly, but are forced on us by life’s circumstances or the will of others. In the midst of them, we may feel disappointed; we may wonder if God has abandoned us; or we may simply feel confused as to why we’re having to travel such roads. Perhaps Mary and Joseph felt some of the same feelings on the journey to Bethlehem…
But, here’s what I know from scripture … and what is echoed time and again in many of our lives already: God does not abandon us while we’re on these journeys. Somehow, in ways never anticipated, he even works through them! Sometimes, God’s greatest work comes out of journeys we don’t want to take! Some of you have seen this before. But if you’re on one of these journeys right now, trust God to walk with you and to bring good from it. Again, let’s place our HOPE in the One who walks with us, that we might know the JOY of Christmas … no matter what journey God has us on!