Beyond the MangerSýnishorn

One of the most familiar parts of the Nativity story is the journey to Bethlehem and the story of Jesus' birth. But have you ever thought about the details of the journey that Mary and Joseph took?

The Journey to Bethlehem

Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the required census. This normally would have been a four-day or approximately 70-mile trip. Due to the fact that Mary was pregnant and would have moved a little bit slower than normal, along with the idea that theologians believe they probably went around the hostile city of Samaria, their trip probably took as long as 10 days. Now, I don't know if you've ever been pregnant, but I personally cannot imagine riding on the back of a donkey for 10 days carrying a child and being as far along as she was.

The City of Bethlehem

The word Bethlehem means "House of Bread." I think it is interesting that Jesus tells us in John 6:35 that He is the bread of life. Bethlehem is not only famous for being the city where Jesus was born, but it is also where Jacob buried Rachel when she died during childbirth. Ruth met Boaz when working in the fields of Bethlehem, and Samuel anointed David to become king of Israel in that city, hence the nickname "the city of David."

Where did Mary & Joseph spend the night?

It is told in both accounts of the Christmas story that there was no room for Mary and Joseph at the inn. Generally, we take that to mean a hotel. Mary and Joseph were very poor, so likely they would not have been able to afford a hotel. They were traveling to their hometown, the hometown of their ancestors anyway. There likely were a lot of family members there, and because it took them so long to get there, probably all of the guest rooms at their family's homes would have been filled. The word "inn" is best translated as a place of rest, a guest chamber, or a large upper room. It is not generally translated as a public place for rent.

What is a manger?

Luke 2:7 says that Mary placed her newborn child in a manger. A manger is where food would have been placed for animals to eat, much like a trough. We portray that manger when we think of this story as being in a barn or a stable, but the Bible does not actually say that. Historians believe that Jesus was most likely born either in a cave or the basement of a family member's home.

I love collecting nativity scenes which reminds me to keep my heart open and to ask God for clarity on passages so my preconceived viewpoints do not cause me to miss the beautiful message God is trying to share. Have you ever thought about these things? What is one thing you learned today about the Christmas story?