“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 clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Lk 2:4-7).
Holiday Travel
I really hate traveling over the holidays. The roads are jammed. So much of your life is out of your control. You’re sleeping in a strange bed (if you can even find one). It seems that if anything can go wrong, it will.
The amazing thing is that God can and does do miraculous things in the middle of the mess.
You Think YOU Have Travel Problems?
Just ask Joe and Mary. Smack dab in the train wreck of a trip, God shows up in a big way. Despite a ridiculous government order, despite a 70-mile trip through mountains with a pregnant teenage fiancee, despite “no vacancy” signs everywhere they turn, despite feeding trough for a basinett, God shows up.
So you think you’re the first one to with travel problems over the holidays? This is the story of Joe and Mary’s Christmas vacation.
I really hate traveling over the holidays. The roads are jammed. So much of your life is out of your control. You’re sleeping in a strange bed (if you can even find one). It seems that if anything can go wrong, it will.
The amazing thing is that God can and does do miraculous things in the middle of the mess.
You Think YOU Have Travel Problems?
Just ask Joe and Mary. Smack dab in the train wreck of a trip, God shows up in a big way. Despite a ridiculous government order, despite a 70-mile trip through mountains with a pregnant teenage fiancee, despite “no vacancy” signs everywhere they turn, despite feeding trough for a basinett, God shows up.
So you think you’re the first one to with travel problems over the holidays? This is the story of Joe and Mary’s Christmas vacation.
The Boondocks of Palestine
We pick up the story 2,000 years ago in the boondocks of Palestine. Welcome to Nazareth. It’s really no more than a bump in the road in the Galilee region of Israel. The population is maybe 500 (if you count every chicken and goat).
We’re talking about the boondocks. Nazareth may not be the end of the world, but you can see it from there. It’s a convenient punchline for the rest the country (Jn 1:46). Want a modern day equivalent? Try Appalachia.
We’re talking about the boondocks. Nazareth may not be the end of the world, but you can see it from there. It’s a convenient punchline for the rest the country (Jn 1:46). Want a modern day equivalent? Try Appalachia.
Ready to Hit the Road
At the end the dirt road, somebody is busy. Very busy. It’s Joe the carpenter and he’s loading up the family donkey. Looks like he’s about to hit the road. He says he’s headed to Bethlehem for the big census.
Oh yeah, the census. Because some Roman dictator wants a head count for taxes, every person living in the empire has head for their hometown.
Bethlehem Bound
For Joe, that’s Bethlehem, a suburb of Jerusalem. It’s 70 miles away. Growing up, he’s always been proud to be a descendant of the great King David. And it was in Bethlehem that God originally sent the prophet Samuel to find Saul’s royal replacement (1Sam 16:1).
Joe also knows that the Scripture says that one day the little town of Bethlehem will be the birthplace of Messiah (Mic 5:2-5). But that’s not really important right now. He needs to finishing packing. He needed to be on the road an hour ago.
Oh yeah, the census. Because some Roman dictator wants a head count for taxes, every person living in the empire has head for their hometown.
Bethlehem Bound
For Joe, that’s Bethlehem, a suburb of Jerusalem. It’s 70 miles away. Growing up, he’s always been proud to be a descendant of the great King David. And it was in Bethlehem that God originally sent the prophet Samuel to find Saul’s royal replacement (1Sam 16:1).
Joe also knows that the Scripture says that one day the little town of Bethlehem will be the birthplace of Messiah (Mic 5:2-5). But that’s not really important right now. He needs to finishing packing. He needed to be on the road an hour ago.
Small Town Scandal
Roads are going to packed. Finding a place to sleep is going to be a bear. If that’s not enough, he’s not traveling alone. His fiancee Mary is going with him. His pregnant teenage fiancee. In the ancient Jewish world, she is his “betrothed” (v5).
This first century betrothal was as legally and religiously binding as marriage. At this point, Joe and Mary would need a divorce in order to end their relationship. And that idea certainly crossed the carpenter’s mind when she told him that she was pregnant. You see, you it’s quite the small town scandal when your “betrothed” is “with child.”
This first century betrothal was as legally and religiously binding as marriage. At this point, Joe and Mary would need a divorce in order to end their relationship. And that idea certainly crossed the carpenter’s mind when she told him that she was pregnant. You see, you it’s quite the small town scandal when your “betrothed” is “with child.”
A Visit from Gabriel
For heaven’s sake, Joe and Mary had never even slept together (Mt 1:18). This Galilean laborer is having a hard time wrapping his blue collar brain around what his fiancee has told him. It’s not his child. It’s God’s.
She says that the legendary angel Gabriel dropped by to tell her personally (Lk 1:26-38). While Joe was trying to figure out what to do, an angel dropped in on one of his dreams with some very important information. And you thought Christopher Nolan came up with the idea of “Inception.” Yeah, right.
Divorce No, Adoption Yes
The carpenter was strongly considering doing what he needed to do to end their relationship when God sent a messenger to talk him out of it.
“‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will be a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins’…When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus” (Mt 1:20-21, 24-25).
Divorce was no longer an option. He was going to be the adoptive dad of the Savior of the world.
She says that the legendary angel Gabriel dropped by to tell her personally (Lk 1:26-38). While Joe was trying to figure out what to do, an angel dropped in on one of his dreams with some very important information. And you thought Christopher Nolan came up with the idea of “Inception.” Yeah, right.
Divorce No, Adoption Yes
The carpenter was strongly considering doing what he needed to do to end their relationship when God sent a messenger to talk him out of it.
“‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will be a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins’…When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His name Jesus” (Mt 1:20-21, 24-25).
Divorce was no longer an option. He was going to be the adoptive dad of the Savior of the world.
Traffic Is Terrible
Joe and Mary load up and hit the road. Despite the fact that she’s in the third trimester, they take the longer and safer road through the Jordan Valley. They can’t take a chance on the much more mountainous and dangerous route through Samaria.
Traffic is terrible. Huge crowds heading to their various homes choke the roads. But Joe remembers what the angel told him the dream. He remembers what Gabriel told Mary. He’s not going to let a few problems stand in the way of what God is about to do.
Hitting the Big City
Eventually they hit the metro Jerusalem area. There’s the temple. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Herod the Great may be a self-absorbed jerk but he’s sure done an incredible job of restoring the house of God.
Traffic is terrible. Huge crowds heading to their various homes choke the roads. But Joe remembers what the angel told him the dream. He remembers what Gabriel told Mary. He’s not going to let a few problems stand in the way of what God is about to do.
Hitting the Big City
Eventually they hit the metro Jerusalem area. There’s the temple. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Herod the Great may be a self-absorbed jerk but he’s sure done an incredible job of restoring the house of God.
Finding a Room
The carpenter and his very pregnant fiancee make their way to the other side of city to the town of Bethlehem. It’s late and it’s been a very long trip.
Finding a room is priority one. Remember, Joe doesn’t have a cell phone and there’s not exactly a Motel 6 leaving the light on for them.
Beggars Can't Be Choosers
There’s only a handful of boarding houses for travelers here and there. And with the Roman census, even finding a rollaway is going to be next to impossible.
Just as he fears, there’s just nothing available. Zip. Zilch. The Big Fat Zero. One motel manager tells the young tired couple they are more than welcome to find a place out back if they like.
There’s a small cave where the livestock bed down at night. Well, beggars can’t be choosers. Especially pregnant beggars.
Going into Labor
They settle in somewhere between the cattle and the sheep. And not a moment too soon. “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth” (v6). This teenage Jewish girl goes into labor.
Bible scholars say she could have been as young as thirteen. Imagine how scary would have been for her. Miles away from home. Traveling with a man she probably didn’t know all that well. Going into heavy labor in some cave used as a barn.
God's Descending One-Way Love
But somehow she remembered the amazing words of Gabriel. He called her the “favored one” (Lk 1:28). She had “found favor with God” (Lk 1:30). Both terms actually describe being on the receiving end of God’s grace, His descending one-way love! He's handpicked this humble chick from the sticks to be the mother of His Son.
It's a Boy!
Bible scholars say she could have been as young as thirteen. Imagine how scary would have been for her. Miles away from home. Traveling with a man she probably didn’t know all that well. Going into heavy labor in some cave used as a barn.
God's Descending One-Way Love
But somehow she remembered the amazing words of Gabriel. He called her the “favored one” (Lk 1:28). She had “found favor with God” (Lk 1:30). Both terms actually describe being on the receiving end of God’s grace, His descending one-way love! He's handpicked this humble chick from the sticks to be the mother of His Son.
It's a Boy!
Suddenly, the cry of a newborn baby in the barn/cave. “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” (v7).
It’s her first child. She and Joe will go on to have other children (Mt 12:46). Jesus’ mother and kid brothers may have doubted who He said He was at first but eventually place their trust in Him as their Savior.
Let’s face it, that may be the greatest proof of His divinity. I’m not sure what I would have to do to get my brothers to believe I was God. But I guess rising from the dead is probably right up there.
A Feed Trough for a Bassinet
It’s her first child. She and Joe will go on to have other children (Mt 12:46). Jesus’ mother and kid brothers may have doubted who He said He was at first but eventually place their trust in Him as their Savior.
Let’s face it, that may be the greatest proof of His divinity. I’m not sure what I would have to do to get my brothers to believe I was God. But I guess rising from the dead is probably right up there.
A Feed Trough for a Bassinet
As if this crazy story isn’t crazy enough, Joe and Mary end up using a feed trough as a bassinet. Maybe that’s not so whacky after all. In about 30 years, Jesus will tell folks that He’s actually the kind of food sent straight from heaven (Jn 6:35). But that’s another story for another time.
We take one last look at the scene behind the motel. The Son of God squirms in a manger. A young couple looks in wonder at what Yahweh has dropped in their lap. They’re pretty sure their lives will never be the same.
Just the Beginning
While they have no idea of the suffering their Son will face, they also can’t even begin to fathom the blessing He will bring. It’s been a crazy trip. But the journey is really just beginning.
We take one last look at the scene behind the motel. The Son of God squirms in a manger. A young couple looks in wonder at what Yahweh has dropped in their lap. They’re pretty sure their lives will never be the same.
Just the Beginning
While they have no idea of the suffering their Son will face, they also can’t even begin to fathom the blessing He will bring. It’s been a crazy trip. But the journey is really just beginning.
And you thought the Griswold’s had a wild “Christmas Vacation.” Please.
©2017
Jay Jennings
©2017
Jay Jennings
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