In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered… And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:1, 4-5
We whine if holiday traffic is crazy, and we complain if the TSA is too slow. Flight delays send us through the roof, and God forbid our wife needs to stop and go pee…again! And if our luggage misses the flight or the kids act up in the back seat of the car; watch out!
In the first century, the occupying government called for a census, likely for taxation purposes, so this was no vacation trip for this little family. In the first century, the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem would be at least 100 miles on foot, a trip that would take days. Oh, by the way, Mary was pregnant and not very comfortable, and her existence would be scandalous, even to Joseph’s family in Bethlehem. It was a rough trip, yet the TRAVEL AGENT who booked it had a purpose in mind. And Joseph accepted it.
Joseph doesn’t get enough credit!
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