Luke 2: 1-7
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited Earth.
This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria.
Apparently Luke wanted to convey the exact time when Jesus was born, noting the census ordered by Caesar. But the records are unclear concerning when "Quirinius was Governor of Syria," having apparently held the office twice.
We know that Luke was very careful with his research, so he may be noting here what could have been common knowledge at the time; but we only have a partial, incomplete manuscript to hint at a previous governorship of Quirinius in Syria at the time of the Birth. More complete records have him holding this office six years later.
And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
People needed to travel, if they didn't still live in the same district as their ancestors, to register with the government.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the City of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register
Joseph lived farther North from where his family had begun in the Promised Land, he lived on the other side of Samaria, in Galilee. He and Mary both lived in Nazareth, so he had to travel.
along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
Even if they weren't married yet, Joseph was still responsible for Mary, as a betrothal was considered as binding as marriage. But since he would not have marital relations with Mary until after the birth and her ritual cleansing, they were still considered engaged.
Mary had gone out-of-town and returned pregnant, and it took Gabriel appearing to Joseph to convince him that the pregnancy was of the Holy Spirit, and that Mary was not unfaithful to him. But the rest of the town was probably abuzz with gossip.
I think this is why Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem.
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
The Christmas Carols all sing about His being born that very night they arrived, but that's not what Luke says. They may have been there several months, we're not told.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son: and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The word for "inn" here is not the usual word that would be used for a public lodging-place, pandocheion. Luke uses the word, kataluma, which means "a room" like a guest-room. So they may have been staying with friends or relatives in a room too small to birth a baby, so they went to the area where the animals were kept, which was often in the same house with the people. And the manger was just right for a cradle for the Baby.
Mary took good care of Him, wrapping Him in the long cloth to swaddle him. And the swaddling clothes and manger were also a sign.
God had planned everything out in detail for all of this to take place exactly as He planned.
So God used the government leaders and officials to do what He wanted to move Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem for the Birth, and He moved Mary out of the guest-room into the barn for the actual Birth.
(And we'll see that when the Wise Men came, they were in the "house.")
O my Father, thank You for Your Word! Thank You for using the precise words for what You want us to know. So Joseph didn't try to get Mary into a public lodging-place that could have been dangerous; he cared enough for her to find a friend or relative to stay with, instead. Joseph really did love Mary, and was a good husband to her, and father to Your Son.
You are so wise and good, Father; of course You would see that the family You placed Your Son into would be a good family, with healthy, loving relationships.
Just as You want for all of us.
Father, I pray for families this Christmas season, that You would help us all to forge closer relationships with each family member, mending riffs and healing wounds. Teach us to love one another as You have Loved us. Show us how to be Christ to those relatives who don't know You yet. Draw to Yourself all of our loved ones this holy season when we are focused on that little family that night.
Even so, come again quickly, Lord Jesus!
