Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 23: Read Matthew 2:19-23

Joseph and Mary Return 

Matthew 2:13-18 tells of Jesus' escape from King Herod's murderous plans. This was a time of great devastation for the people of Judah. King Herod's actions fulfilled a prophecy spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. Matthew 2:19-23 reveals Joseph and Mary's return after King Herod had died. Upon King Herod's death, an angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream. At this time Joseph and his family were in Egypt, where they had gone to escape King Herod. The angel said, "Get up! Take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel because the people who were trying to kill the child are now dead." Joseph obeyed the angel and took the child and his mother to Israel. On his way to Israel, he heard that Archalaus was now king in Judah since his father Herod had died. This news made Joseph afraid. After he was warned in a dream, he went to the area of Galilee, to a town called Nazareth, and lived there. So what God had said through the prophets came true: "He will be called a Nazarene." 

King Herod had a murderous heart and killed many boys in Israel in his attempt to destroy the threat he perceived to his throne. Jesus, given the title of the King of the Jews, was not an actual threat to man-made kings, but to Satan. He didn't come to rule over a country, but to bring salvation to His people through His divine rule and protection. Jesus' life was never intended to be long and so His rule was never going to be during His life as a man. In theory, Jesus could have easily risen to worldly power and been a great ruler of Israel, but the time had not come for His rule. His time to rule was not during His life on earth because it was only through His death that His people could be saved for eternity. If the rulers and religious leaders had realized this then their attitudes would have been very different. 

When the threat to Jesus' life is over, an angel of the Lord tells Joseph it is safe to return to Israel. Then it is made known that Archalaus is king in place of his father and it seems that Jesus' life is once again threatened. Archalaus in power is a threat to Jesus because he was alive when his father was trying to murder Jesus and he is likely to also view Jesus as a threat to his rule. Once again Joseph is warned and this time the angel tells him to go to the area of Galilee, to the town of Nazareth. The angel is essentially telling Joseph to return to his home. Recall that Joseph had lived in Nazareth when he was engaged to be married to Mary and they had to leave Nazareth to travel to Bethlehem to pay taxes in a census. The little family has traveled in a full circle back to their home. This was done that the words of God, spoken through the prophets, would be fulfilled. Jesus was to be called a Nazarene. 

This passage represents the end to the Christmas story and the start of Jesus' childhood. The earlier threats to Jesus' life foreshadow the later threats He faced in adulthood. Once again there is this reminder that there is much darkness in existence, but without darkness there would not be a need for light. Adam and Eve's sin cast existence into darkness and the depth of sin began to grow in the world uncontrollably. At times in history the darkness was so thick that light could barely be seen. We, as humans, had allowed sin to enter into the world and at times it threatens to choke the life out of us. I don't think it is fair to solely blame Adam and Eve because sin is likely to have been introduced by some other person at some other time. We were never made to be perfect and therefore always had the capacity to be led astray. It may not have been forbidden fruit, but it would have been something else that introduced sin into existence. In darkness there is the greatest need for light. God gave us His son to be the light we needed. Through Jesus we can see the way and one day join Him in the light, never to experience darkness again. Never let the Light of Christmas make you forget about the darkness because the darkness is the reason we need the Light.

Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Challenge

Day 14: Read Luke 2:1-7

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7 reveals to us the events that led up to Jesus's birth. At that time, Augustus Caesar decreed that all people in the countries under Roman control must list their names in a register. This was the first time a registration was ordered and it was taken while Quirinius was governor in Syria. All of the people had to return to the towns of their family to register. This meant that Joseph had to leave Nazareth and travel to the town of Bethlehem, also known as the town of David, because Joseph was from the family of David. Joseph took Mary with him because they were engaged. Mary was pregnant at this time. While they were in Bethlehem, it became time for Mary to give birth, but there was not room in the inn. She gave birth to a son, wrapped him in pieces of cloth, and laid him in a box where animals are fed because there wasn't room in the inn.

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, but God had spoken through His prophets that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. The young couple would not have had reason to travel to Bethlehem, especially when Mary was about to give birth to a son, but God ensures the completion of His prophecy through Caesar's decree. Joseph and Mary are under Roman rule, which means they must comply with Caesar's decree or risk punishment, the punishment likely being prison or death. The couple is forced to take the long journey to Bethlehem just before Mary is about to give birth. Once in Bethlehem Mary is able to give birth to a son and fulfill the prophecy. God could have made room in the inn for the young couple and their child, but instead He has the baby born in a stable with animals. This is not done to suggest that Jesus is the same as an animal or less than God's son, but is once again an example of a humble beginning that God will transform into a glorious ending. 

The humbleness of Jesus's birth should not be treated as a reason to be dismissive of Him, but rather should be a reminder of our own need for humbleness. The shelter over His head is not grand, but it still protects Him and He has no reason to want for more. The cloth covering His body is not luxurious, but He is clothed. He does not have a single possession and yet He knows God's love. Most of our lives will never be this humble and yet we can still learn from Jesus's humble birth. It does matter our shelter, if there is a roof over our heads then we can give thanks to God for protecting us from the elements. If our bodies are covered then it doesn't matter what the label says and we can give thanks to a God for clothing our bodies. It does not matter what possessions we own if we know God's love for us, which is the only part of our lives that will endure forever. God desires a humble heart and this is shown in the birth of Jesus. In humbleness God is glorified.