Journey To The Manger, Part 3

Journey to the Manger Part 3

Luke 2:4-7 NKJ

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

For the past two weeks, we have looked at the events that led to Joseph and Mary having to take the long journey to Bethlehem.

Caesar had required that every man of Judea, must return to his place of birth, so the census could be completed.

Now some might think, that-that was the reason Joseph went to Bethlehem and that Jesus was born there.

But the real reason was, so God’s prophetic word could be fulfilled, concerning the coming of the Messiah!

Imagine that, God had caused everyone living under the Roman rule to be on the move, so His Word would fulfilled.

Fact is: God would have caused the whole world to be on the move,

if that’s what it would have taken, to introduce His Son to the world and keep His word!

For both Mary and Joseph, it had been quite a journey.

70 miles, through both desert and mountainous areas.

Now you and I may have expected preferential treatment, if we had been in their shoes.

I mean after all, they didn’t just have the favor of God’s presence on them,

Mary was about to give birth to the Absolute Favor and Amazing Grace of God, that would forever change the world!

We would have really expected the royal treatment, you know, “the red carpet experience”.

We probably would have been like, do you know who I am?

I’m going to be, the mother or father of the child, that’s going to change the world!

But God Had a different kind of plan in mind, a different kind of introduction to the world for Heavens Pride, the Promised One!

Mary and Joseph didn’t know all the details, and they didn’t have to,

they were ever so humble about it and that’s why God chose them, over all the others He had to choose from

they knew this wasn’t about them, this was way bigger than them!

All they had was God’s word to go by and that was enough, that’s all they needed!

No matter what we face in this world, God’s word is always more than enough and all we will ever need, to see us through any situation! Amen?

As they neared their destination, the word crowded, probably doesn’t even begin to describe what they saw.

Bethlehem was experiencing the biggest family, after family reunion, the city had ever seen.

And although Joseph had relatives that lived there, none of them had any room for Him and his wife.

No doubt, everyone's homes were filled to capacity, with every man returning to their birthplace,

they couldn’t find anyone to take them in, anywhere!

You know how it is anyway, trying to stay with family, especially with family that you haven’t seen in a long time.

(Knock, knock, knock), a remember me, your sister’s, mom’s, brother’s, grandson’s, girlfriend’s 2nd cousin, twice removed,

or its like “oh my goodness”!, it’s the

so-and-so’s, quick shut off the lights,

everybody quiet and no matter what happens, don‘t answer the door!

So Mary and Joseph, by themselves, had to search out a room in the inn, and attempt to pay for some accommodations where they could stay for a while.

Opening the door to the inn, they found it filled beyond its capacity with loud, boisterous men and animals everywhere,

remember things were different in those days

And also Remember, only the men were required to register for the census,

all their wives were at home, so it was probably kind of a rowdy crowd.

Think about it, 2000 years ago there were no Holiday Inns, or Motel 6’s, there wasn’t even such a thing as a flea bag motel,

If there would have been, I’m sure it would have been plush, compared to the accommodations of the Inn that they were looking at.

Ya know, at this point in the Christmas story, most of us are familiar enough with it, we could finish telling it ourselves, with ease!

But did you know, that there are children young and old, that haven’t been raised in church

That don’t know the story and the real reason why, the whole world celebrates it.

For all that matter, there are parents of those children and parents of those parents,