How alone Joseph and Mary must have felt on the dusty road from Nazareth to Bethlehem that night. Their fellow travelers were aware of their marital status; yet Mary was about to have a child. What scandal!
Had I been in the crowd on that dusty road that day, would I have been one of the ones to criticize that young girl? I hope not! Joseph had been told in a dream that he should not be afraid to take Mary to be his wife, as the child she was carrying was conceived of the Holy Spirit...I admire Joseph, who, instead of leaving his betrothed home to face the cruel criticism of her neighbors, took her with him. He was also concerned about the nearness of her delivery. Although it is supposed that Mary was just in her later teens, Joseph would possibly have been in his late twenties, or early thirties (according to the customs of those days, I understand). He was very protective of his soon-to-be-bride, and guarded her against the cruel criticism of the public. Joseph had been told in a dream that Mary was the mother of the Lord, so he knew there was no scandal. But also because he loved her, he was not going to let anything happen to Mary. The trip was not an option. They had to go. Caesar had declared that everyone was to go to the place of his/her birth, to be registered for taxes. Let us depict the scene on that trip from Nazareth, where Joseph dwelt, to Bethlehem, where both Joseph and Mary were born.
THE DUSTY ROAD
The dusty road was crowded with donkeys and with carts. The travelers grouped by families. One couple rode apart. They trudged along in silence. They knew what people thought: "It's a scandal! She is wicked. She's a harlot. She is rot."
They'd heard the jeers and whispers. They knew what people said: "That girl is very pregnant...and they'd heard they'd just been wed."
For miles the couple listened to the ridicule and scorn—from Nazareth down to Bethlehem, the place where they were born. Through dust and haze they plodded. They had no choice, you see. For the land was ruled by Caesar, and he'd issued a decree: "Everyone must register. Your taxes you must pay. Go all, unto your birthplace. Do it now, and don't delay."
Into the town of Bethlehem the couple came that night. Through crowds of irate travelers, their way they had to fight. The man began to worry. For his young wife, he did fear. She was so very weary, and her time was drawing near.
He went to all the hostels. He asked at every inn. "We have no room," they told him.... His faith was growing thin.
"Alas!" said one innkeeper, when he saw the woman's plight. "I have—outback—a stable. You could stay there for tonight."
Thus, in a cattle manger, in the early hours of morn, God's Son, the Christ-child, Jesus, to this humble birth was born. His mother and His father bowed down their heads in prayer. This moment, oh so sacred, they with the beasts did share.
No grand and glorious welcome to the little Lord was given. No newscast flashed across the world: BORN US THE KING OF HEAVEN. No one but humble shepherds came around to welcome him. But in a stall, that wondrous night, was born the KING OF KINGS.
© Helen Dowd
