Photograph Credit: Flickr (Cindy Hall)
Merry Christmas! As our family easily travels to and from our home visiting family and friends, I am reminded how blessed I am to live in the 21st century.
Prior to the 1800s, the primary modes of transportation in the United States were walking, riding horseback, taking steamboats, and driving covered wagons, which traveled 15 to 20 miles per day in good weather.
Today, with the addition of trains, automobiles, and planes, one can easily travel upwards of 3,000 miles in one day. By juxtaposing the distances traveled by a modern family against those of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and Wise Men, the participants’ heart reactions reveal the amazing journey of God’s gift to the world, His Son, Christ Jesus.
Joseph and Mary
Believing through faith the messages they received from the Angels, Joseph and Mary traveled the 80-90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). To travel approximately 85 miles today, a family could drive in Florida from Orlando to Tampa in about 1.5 hours on a safe, smooth highway.
But Joseph and Mary traveled on foot, and this journey took between 2.5 days to over a week. Though the way was hard and dangerous, God protected Joseph and Mary; and, after the birth of Christ, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
Shepherds
Upon witnessing the Angel’s announcement of Christ’s birth “this day in the city of David,” the shepherds believed the message and immediately journeyed less than a mile up to the city of Bethlehem (Luke 2:11). Realizing the significance of meeting the Son of God, the shepherds returned rejoicing and spreading the good news of the “Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 11, 17, 20).
Wise Men
Traveling from the Persian Empire, the Wise Men’s journey could have taken from 1.5 to 2 years to arrive in Jerusalem. Upon entering this country, the Wise Men visited King Herod, seeking permission to search for “The One to be Ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).
With Herod’s approval, the Wise Men traveled the approximate 6 miles to Bethlehem, where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus resided. Being led by the star to their destination, the Wise Men rejoiced. At the sight of the Savior of the World, the Wise Men fell down, worshipped, and presented gifts (Matthew 2:11).
From great distances Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, and the Wise Men came to Bethlehem. When in the presence of Jesus, each believed, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
But the greatest distance traversed was between heaven and earth when Christ left His Father’s throne to be born in a manager. Because of His great journey, Christ built a bridge to provide you a passage to heaven with Him.
Whatever the physical distance traveled, the journey of your heart can pass from death to life, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” May the Christ of Christmas reign in your heart forever. Merry Christmas!