Luke 2:1-7, The Birth of Jesus
Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the purpose of fulfilling the requirement to register for the census. They made this trek at the time of the pending birth of Jesus; Mary 8 months pregnant. According to google maps the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem is approximately 150km or 93 miles. Google maps offers the options to click for driving, biking, walking, or public transportation. Since the donkey riding option is not yet fully developed for google maps, I chose walking. Researching further, I found that to the halfway point on the journey, the walk is mostly flat, but from the mid-point to Bethlehem, a trekker must climb approximately 1000 meters of elevation. (3000 feet of elevation gain)
A few years ago, my son Nic and I trained and rode the Mt. Baker Hill Climb. This is a bike race to Artist Point above the Mt. Baker Ski area. This is the highest point and termination of the Mt. Baker Highway 542. The last 10 miles of the ride climbs from the DOT station to the parking lot at Artist point. This climb is approximately 3000 feet of elevation gain. Nic and I were riding light weight bikes, we trained, carried water, food, and neither of us were 8 months pregnant…It was still really hard.
It should be no surprise that I’m only a spectator in my experience with pregnancy. Even in my most uninformed perspective, not much about this story seems typical. A Virgin Birth, Speaking with Angels, Birth of the Messiah…all unusual. However, just prior to chapter two, I read about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Now this visit seems typical: A newly pregnant Mom, seeking the advice and company of another newly pregnant Mom. Mary visits Elizabeth and stays with her for 3 months. I believe this story of a pregnant Mom, seeking solace in the company of another pregnant Mom, probably resonates with first-time Mom’s everywhere. This normalcy only highlights the oddity of jumping on a donkey and hiking off to Bethlehem in the final days of a pregnancy. I’m sure Mary sought comfort and eschewed donkey rides and sleeping in stables. As much as I might try to get into the mind of Mary, or any pregnant woman, my whole experience only amounts to outside observation. Rather than try to conjure the mind of a pregnant woman I lean into the perspective for Joseph.
“Ain’t nobody happy if Mama ain’t happy!”
A maxim never truer than for Joseph on this journey. This new husband learns he must load up his pregnant wife and trudge 90 miles to Bethlehem, camp out in a stable, and drop his newborn into a manger. The chill of the conversation on the 90-mile journey felt palpable. The icy scowl from Mary when the final inn keeper said, “no vacancy.” The exhausted groan when the contractions began while sleeping in a strange place on the ground. The cry of agony, fear, and desperation as the labor pains continued. The baffled, helpless, first-time husband wishing for a midwife, a doctor, or even a helpful relative, but finding himself utterly alone with his laboring wife. I’m pretty sure it was not a pleasant journey for Joseph either. The Birth of Jesus.