Journey to Bethlehem

Chuckle: The interviewer to the job applicant, "for a man with no retail experience, you're asking for a high wage." "Well," said the applicant, "the work will be a lot harder for me since I won't know what I'm doing!"

Quote: "This most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained-glass window's hue, A Baby in an Ox's stall." --John Betjeman, Christmas

At that time the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. All returned to their own towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendent 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. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was obviously pregnant by this time" (Luke 2:1-5 NLT).

In accordance with a Roman decree, all inhabitants were required to register where they lived and owned property. However, Jews were required to return to their ancestral home to register. These registrations were used as the basis for establishing tax rolls. Isn't it amazing that God caused Caesar Augustus's decree to be issued at the precise time that would cause Jesus to be born in the village of Bethlehem just as the prophet Micah (5:2) had predicted 750 years before?

God worked through ungodly rulers and their selfish political purposes to bring about the most amazing, indescribable, and unrepeatable gift of salvation. It must have been a most difficult trip to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph. Mary was going to have a baby at any time and the trip from Nazareth was a long (70 miles) and tiring one.

The prophecies of old; the miraculous birth of John; Mary's conception by the Holy Spirit; Joseph's encounter with the angel of the Lord; and the account of Joseph's and Mary's trip to Bethlehem, all confirmed that God was in control and arranging a sequence of events leading to the birth of our Savior. What an amazing display of God's love, power, and eternal plan to redeem us from the bondage of sin. Let's rejoice for the God-given privilege of experiencing the wonders of Christmas!

A Christmas prayer: Lord, give me a new and fresh appreciation for your love for me, and let your love flow through me into the lives of others. Help me to touch the lives of those needing a kind word of encouragement and support. Make this Christmas a most memorable one for others because I allow the spirit of Christmas to bless them through me. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Love, Jerry & Dotse