Last week we ended with our review of the supernatural events in the life those involved in the birth of Jesus, particularly with the lives of Joseph and Mary, and how he handled the news of his wife’s pregnancy. That is where we will pick up our story again.
God was watching over his plan for the Messiah of Israel and all mankind by making sure no one went astray in His plan. Joseph was evidently a very humble and obedient person for God to allow him the responsibility of rearing his one and only begotten son. Joseph is evidently an older man for God to talk with him by dreams (Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17).
I looked up at what age is a man considered old in Joel 2:28, and it seems to be starting around the age of 30. This age is where a man was given significant responsibility in Old Testament times. So we can assume that Joseph was in his 30s and Mary was probably in her teens. This is where we pick up our story again as Joseph has just been given his first dream from God.
Turn in your Bible to Luke 2:1-7 and we can see where the Roman government gets involved in the story of Jesus birth. Joseph and Mary are living together as husband and wife in their new home in Nazareth, and then the news arrives from far away Rome that will change both of their lives drastically.
Emperor Caesar Augustus has decided he needs to take a census of all his vast kingdom as he informs his subjects that they need to return to their ancestral homes and be counted and taxed accordingly. This was probably in the year 4 BC, according to those more learned than this priest. The reason he does this is to allow him to be able to better manage the vast Roman Empire that his father Julius Caesar had created.
This taxation census was also to assure a fair and profitable collection, primarily for more money to provide for his much needed military armed forces, that assured that he was able to reign in peace. This census has created a problem for Joseph and Mary, who was about 8-9 months into her pregnancy. It really did not matter as they had to obey the law of the land, or suffer the consequences.
So Joseph and Mary set off for Bethlehem, which was the home of their ancestor David, which was around 70 miles away. This trip in itself was quite a feat for Mary in her condition. They needed to travel with a large group of people in a caravan for safety and easier traveling. It definitely required some preparation on their part, as food, water, bedding, and money were required as this trip would take around a week of slow travel.
A caravan could travel around 10-12 miles a day through mountainous terrain, and unstable weather, and fluctuating temperatures. A donkey was probably required to carry the necessary supplies for travel and also to allow her to ride for short periods to rest her feet and legs. Remember she is very pregnant by this time.
They arrived in Bethlehem only to find it so crowded with travelers that there is no place for them to stay. My guess is that they camped out near the inn until Mary started the birth process, then they moved into a stable for the birth of her son Jesus. Our story so far has been somewhat normal, but with several supernatural events in both their lives, but that is about to change.
Now this trip was normal in the lives of all those who traveled during this time of forced census. Nothing supernatural in their traveling and it was just another pregnancy to all those they traveled with. Remember, this is how God chose to enter the realm of human life. No fanfare, no palace, just a humble stable for Joseph and Mary.
I do not believe that Mary had her baby alone, and Jewish history and tradition suggests that Joseph had found a midwife to help his wife deliver her firstborn child, as she was just a young girl at this time. No scripture to back me up, just logic common sense. Baby Jesus arrives as she delivers him into this world, to begin his journey of life as a human being.
Now let’s switch our story of the birth over to the Bethlehem countryside. Here we find a group of shepherds tending their flocks of sheep on this special, supernatural night. Luke picks up the story in verses 8-15 as he writes about this special event the local shepherds saw. These men were just humble shepherds, doing their job of keeping their sheep safe and fed through the long night hours.
Suddenly, they hear a loud voice and a great light shining in the dark night sky. That they were terrified would be an understatement, as they shook in fear and wondered what was happening to them. The angel sees that he has frightened them as he says, “fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.”
Then he gives them instructions on where to find this baby that has been born in a stable in Bethlehem. This spectacle only gets more supernatural as a multitude of heavenly hosts start praising God saying, “glory to God in the highest and on earth, good will toward men.” Then they leave as quickly as they came!
This was quite a night for these shepherds, as they got together and discussed what they has just experienced, and they decide to go see for themselves this miraculous baby the angels had just proclaimed. The Bible says “and they came with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
Something of interest here is that they are the first of many that would tell the story of Jesus and his humble supernatural birth, and in verse 17 it says, “and when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” Every one they talked with wondered if what they saw and said were true and that the Messiah they had longed for, had finally arrived.
This story has been told and believed for over 2000 years and here I am telling it to you once again, and I hope you all will tell it to those you love, and also those you come into contact with during this special time of year. Next week we will look at the final events the Bible has given us we proclaim the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Remember you will make it, just don’t give up. see you next week as we study Gods Word together.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 