Joseph and Pregnant Mary Travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David. (Luke 2:4)
As our journey toward Jesus’s birth unfolds, another complication arises. Caesar Augustus decrees that a census will take place for the entire Roman Empire. Everyone—including Joseph, with pregnant Mary—must return to their hometown to register.
They travel from where they live in Nazareth, which is in the region of Galilee, to the region of Judea, specifically to the town of Bethlehem.
God uses Caesar Augustus’s census to temporarily move Joseph and Mary. This enables Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, just as foretold in the Old Testament by the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2).
The Old Testament doesn’t mention the town of Nazareth, but it does talk about Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the home of Boaz, who married the Moabite widow Ruth. They were the great-grandparents of David, who would later become king.
Luke adds a confusing note about Bethlehem, calling it the town of David (the city of David). When we think of the City of David, we think of Jerusalem, which is a few miles away.
However, Luke uses town or city generically, while the Old Testament refers to the City of David (uppercase c) as a proper noun. The two are different and we shouldn’t confuse them.
Given that Mary’s pregnancy is nearing completion, the timing of this journey is challenging. Modern-day maps show that the route from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 90 miles (145 km).
Though we often picture Mary making this journey riding on a donkey, the Bible doesn’t say that.
Traveling 90 miles would be difficult for anyone, be it on foot or on the back of an animal. For a pregnant woman about to give birth, the trip must be a most trying journey.
Regardless of the method of transportation, the trip would have taken four to five days in normal circumstances.
At a typical pace of 2.5 mph (4 kph) and walking eight hours a day, they’d arrive in Bethlehem in four and a half days. Yet Mary’s condition surely adds time to the trip, with frequent stops so that she can rest or relieve herself.
Does seeing Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament fill us with awe?
Might Mary and Joseph have been thinking about this as they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem?
Prayer: Lord God, we stand in amazement at how you orchestrated events so Jesus could be born in Bethlehem, just as your prophet Micah said would happen. Thank you for revealing this insight to us through your Word.
[This devotional is taken from the December 18 reading from The Advent of Jesus.]
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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