Luke 2: 4-5, 7
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David [actually, the royal, kingly line from King David]; to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
and there was no room for them in the inn.
This must have been a very arduous journey for Mary, being at the end of her pregnancy, having no comfortable seat in a car or train. She may have had a donkey to ride, a very uncomfortable and bumpy ordeal, over such a long way. No wonder she went into labor that night.
Actually, having "no room in the inn" did not mean a private room, but room on the floor for their mat in the common room with all the other travelers. So being shown the barn was really their only option for privacy that night. A blessing in disguise. And it provided the best-fitting cradle for a newborn baby, a manger for holding animal feed.
So here is Joseph, concerned for his beloved, having to bed her down in a stable of domesticated animals for company, but also useful for warmth. And she is having labor pains, her child will be born soon. And here's Mary, never having had a child before, but having learned all about it from Elizabeth, her cousin, with John's birth. So now she'll have to manage it, all by herself? Well, she at least knew what to expect, if everything goes well.
I don't think either Mary or Joseph got much sleep that night, if any, with her in hard labor. This can be very scary, as I found out with my first. I'm glad she had Joseph with her to hold her hand, if not more. We don't know if he went out to find a midwife, that detail didn't seem significant to Luke, or Matthew, either, as they recorded this event.
We're only told that everything went well, both mother and baby made it through without mishap, and both were doing well. And Joseph didn't need to faint!
Have a Merry Christmas Eve, pondering these mysterious but telling lines.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
