An airline advises: “For travel after the 36th week for single pregnancies or after the 32nd week for multiple pregnancies, we can only carry you for urgent medical or compassionate reasons, and only on approval from our medical advisors. We may also ask that a suitable medical attendant accompany you.” Experts from the Mayo clinic advise: “Your health care provider might restrict travel of any type after 36 weeks of pregnancy.”
“Joseph, I can’t go like this. My feet are swollen and my back aches. Look at me, I’m clumsy and uncomfortable standing and walking.”
“My love, we have no choice. This decree is from the emperor in Rome. I’ve been to the Roman authorities and pleaded with them, but they won’t allow any exceptions. All of us who are descendants of David must go to Bethlehem for this census.”
“It took us six days to go to Jerusalem for the festival and it’s another day’s journey to Bethlehem. The baby may come at any time now. It’s almost nine months since I was told the staggering news that I will bear a son for the Almighty, who will reign in King David’s line. We’ll risk the baby coming somewhere along the road, with no one to help me.”
“Mary, we must leave tomorrow. Sarah is very quiet and obedient. She’s carried wood here from the coast many times, and I’ll make a comfortable seat for you on her back, with several blankets. I’ll be with you all the time. Remember God is at work in this birth. We are in his hands and he will see us through the difficulties.”
“I am the Lord’s servant. I don’t understand why I have to go through with this but I’m holding onto the words I heard quoted from Jeremiah, the ancient prophet, who said God had ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
That trip must have been awful for the couple. They found nowhere to stay when they finally got to Bethlehem. All the lodges were full and they had to creep into the animal shelter behind an inn, to get a bit of warmth.
That is when Mary’s pains became nearly unbearable. Only when the babe was safely out and she saw his crumpled little face, did she begin to feel the joy again of God’s presence and purpose.
That baby, Jesus, was God’s special gift to give every person a second chance: To be reborn spiritually and know a purpose in life, to lose the fear of death and have a secure future with him in eternity.
For Mary, doing God’s will was extremely difficult, but through her, God was blessing us as he fulfilled prophecies in Isaiah and Micah that confirm that this birth had been his gracious and perfect plan throughout all time.
He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. “You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11,12).
