The Journey

Luke 2:4-7 “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

When we think of the Christmas story we think of the promise of the coming Savior. The angel of the Lord informing Mary she was to give birth to the Messiah and confirming this word to Joseph, and then setting out on a 90 mile journey at the 9th month of pregnancy.

The journey to the promise was hard. It was marked by complete trust in what God had said even though it seemed impossible. The trip that followed, was up and down hills for 90 miles in the Judean desert AND in winter! It would be cold and rainy in the day and freezing at night, also there was the dangers of thieves that would hide out along that route and rob people. The entire process was grueling, scary and exhausting, not to mention appointed rather than requested.

The Messiah was indeed coming, but the journey to the Inn, to the stable and eventually to the cross was not an easy one. The promised Messiah was about to change the world, but I doubt the journey to the birth was what Mary or Joseph imagined. An angel messenger followed by a difficult road and a stable for the delivery room. In the end, the journey didn’t change the promise, it more likely changed Mary and Joseph. They found out that the Word of the Lord was true, though the process required endurance. I don’t know what promise you have, but the journey there might not look like what you imagined. Stay the course and you’ll see the birth of that which was promised unto you.

Pastor Natalie Snider