The Men of ChristmasНамуна

The Time Has Come

It’s Christmas soon. It’s a time of preparation and anticipation. The time before the time, so to speak.

And even in the celebration of the first Christmas, timing was important. Timing may not be everything, but it certainly is important. It can make the difference between success and failure, between easy and incredibly difficult.

It’s easy to think of the events of Jesus’s birth as happening all within a single evening. Joseph and a heavily pregnant Mary finishing their journey to Bethlehem barely in time to be told there was no room in the house and to settle in with the animals (perhaps in a lower room in the house or even a cave on the family property) before Mary went into labor.

It’s tempting to envision Mary doubled over with contractions as they were turned away from the guest room (it likely wasn’t an inn/travelers’ lodge) and the pair rushing on foot (not likely on a donkey—they were outrageously expensive and the couple probably couldn’t afford one). But the reality is that Jesus was likely born simply while they were in Bethlehem, not the very night they arrived.

Why does this matter?

Because Mary didn’t have to be there in the first place—at least for the purpose of the census. Joseph was the one who had to go to Bethlehem to register. Mary didn’t need to join him. And, if they needed a better place to stay, Mary’s relatives (Elizabeth and Zechariah) lived only a short distance from Bethlehem. Close enough to stay there while Joseph registered.

The couple’s trip to Bethlehem was an act of faith. According to the prophet Micah, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Joseph brought the pregnant Mary with him so that the baby would be born in Bethlehem.

Far from unfortunate timing, Joseph and Mary deliberately went to Bethlehem to have the baby so that Scripture would be fulfilled. Being turned away from the family lodgings was an unfortunate circumstance; their presence in Bethlehem for the birth was not.

Joseph and Mary acted in faith. Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem. Without it, His identity as Messiah would have been in question. Their simple act of faith in going to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus was a necessary step in Jesus being the One who would bring salvation to the world.

Prayer: Father of surprises, thank You that You work in mysterious ways. That the small acts of faith by people pave the way for Your plan to unfold. Help me to act in faith even when the circumstances seem difficult. Help me find Your timing and plan for my life. Amen.

Reflection: Joseph brought Mary to Bethlehem because he knew the baby in her womb was the Messiah, and he knew that Scripture said the Messiah needed to be born in Bethlehem. What part of Scripture do you know you need to be obedient to today?