The Way to Bethlehem

90 Miles by Foot

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while ^a Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Luke 2: 1-5

It is about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but the couple would have traveled this distance on foot over rocky terrain. The Bible does not mention that Mary sat on a donkey, but tradition always presents her this way.

The Gospel of Luke gives the Roman census as the reason for the couple’s travel to Bethlehem in the last days of Mary’s pregnancy, but historical documents don’t agree. The actual taxation took place about twelve years after the birth of Jesus, making it unclear why they made the journey that fulfilled the prophecy of the Old Testament. Bethlehem, remember, was Joseph’s hometown. It’s possible he took Mary to meet his family.

Church plays of the Nativity Story often portray a frantic Joseph looking for shelter for his laboring betrothed, but that’s probably not the case. But Luke gives us sparse details, only “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” (Luke 2:6). It seems likely that Joseph’s family would have known Joseph and Mary were coming to town. The idea that an innkeeper shooed them away with the declarative statement, “No room!” is most likely a work of fiction. Wouldn’t God have made preparations for the birth of his Son?

The room Mary and Joseph were probably given was not a mean save or stable, but the lower level of a relative’s house. Animals may have been brought into this room on cold nights, but no mention is made of animals in the natal accounts. This would have been the most private room in the house and thus a good place for Mary to labor.

My husband and I were in charge of the Christmas Eve service at our church for many years and the church children would reenact the Nativity story with hysterical inaccuracies. One year, Mary—played by Paige—refused to go to Bethlehem and sent Joseph—played by Joey—on ahead to make sure there was a room for her. What fond memories do you have of Christmas plays?

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