As Caleb and his family finished their meal, Miriam could be seen anxiously putting the plates and bowls away. As she hurriedly cleaned, Caleb looked to his daughter-in-law and smiled. “My daughter, you seem a little impatient this night, is all good?” On hearing his voice, Miriam paused for a moment. “Abba(Hebrew for father), all day Ayala and Hannah have asked me when you are going to tell us about the actual birth of Jesus. And all day I have not had good answers for my two anxious daughters, but to tell them to be patient. And I must admit, they have a mother who finds herself just as anxious also!”
Caleb smiled on hearing her words. “You will need patience no more, we will talk about His birth this night!” As the words came out of his mouth, Caleb could watch the whole family gather. Even the grandchildren quickly made their way to his feet, so they could hear the story being told. And as all found their place, and children made their way into the laps and arms of mothers and fathers, Caleb smiled again as he began to speak.
“I remember my parents telling me about a census that had been imposed on all of Israel. One that required all to go to the place where their family records were kept, so every single person could be accounted for(Luke 2:1-3). The whole Mediterranean had been at war for years, as after the death of Julius Caesar, three great rivals fought for the control of Rome. Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus fought bitterly for complete control, until the day finally came that Octavian defeated the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra of Egypt, and took control. And as he became the sole ruler of Rome, he took the title Caesar Augustus. Peace returned to the land under Augustus, and never had Rome prospered like it began to then. The world saw the spread of ideas, resources and religion, like it never had before. But with peace, Augustus also sought power. As Rome went from a republic governed by laws, to an empire governed by an emperor.”
Caleb continued to explain what the world was then like. “Although Augustus might have been ruling the land, the Lord God was still in charge(Psalm 72:11). And as the birth of Jesus grew near, the hand of God moved, and led Augustus to order a census, one that led Mary and Joseph to the exact place the prophets said the Messiah would be. From Nazareth to Bethlehem was a long trip, one that covered many miles. About every fourteen years, Rome took a census, and did so for both military and tax purposes. With each census, every Jewish male had to return to the city of his forefathers, where his name was recorded, information was kept on his occupation, his property, and all those in his family.”
Looking out at his family, Caleb made sure to speak clearly as he continued. “God had promised that the Messiah would be born as a human(Genesis 3:15), that He would be born a Jew(Numbers 24:17), that He would be of the lineage of David(2 Samuel 7:1-17), of the tribe of Judah(Genesis 49:10), and would be born of a virgin(Isaiah 7:14). One other thing the Lord promised of the Messiah, He would be born in the city of David, in the small town of Bethlehem, which is just a short few miles south of Jerusalem. I can still remember being taught the words of Micah, ‘But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.(Micah 5:2)’ God’s perfect plan would place together all the pieces perfectly, as He would bring the Messiah to the exact place He had to be, at the exact time He had to be there.”
As Caleb continued, he raised his hands to the Lord. “Think about the power it shows us about the Lord we serve holds. The Lord God moved the most powerful man in the world, from the ivory towers of the most powerful and popular city in this world, to bring about the fulfillment of his plan, so the Messiah could be born in a small but promised town, that few in this world had ever heard of!”
On hearing this, Caleb's son, Uri, began to speak. “Abba, if I might ask, why would Rome impose such hardship? Was it not hard for people to make this trip that the census required?” Hearing his words, Caleb began to speak again. “My son, when have you ever known Rome to be worried about the hardship it placed on those it ruled over? I can remember my parents talking about going back to Bethany for the census, and although it was just a short trip for them, it was difficult. The roads were crowded, the cities were often over packed. But they did also talk about how good it was to get to see family again, some they would never again get to see. And I know they stayed with family, and remained there for days afterwards so that could make the most of the opportunity it gave them.”
As Caleb continued, “Joseph made the long and hard journey from Nazareth in Galilee, all the way south to Bethlehem, the city of David, the place he would have been required to go, as this is where the roots of his family were from(Luke 2:4). This would have been a difficult trip, each of you, my daughters, can imagine how difficult it would have been on a woman who was very pregnant. Over ninety miles they would have travelled, descending from the hills of Galilee, only to have to climb even higher hills before they reached Bethlehem. But I cannot help but believe that Joseph knew the trip was worth every step. Not only did it bring the Child where He would need to be, but it took Mary from out of the stares of judgmental eyes that must have been on her all the time while she was in Nazareth, This was not a trip, under Roman law, that Mary would have had to take, as Roman law did not see the relationship between Joseph and her the same as did Jewish law. Joseph remained engaged at this time to Mary, not consummating the marriage until after the Child was born(Matthew 1:24). Under Jewish law, they were considered married, but under Roman law, they were not considered united until the marriage was consummated. But the love Joseph had for Mary, the plans he had for their life together, and the faithful obedience he had in our Lord God, would not have found Mary anywhere else but by his side(Luke 2:5).”
Caleb then paused, taking a deep breath and gathering his thoughts as he prepared to tell them the rest of the story. “In speaking with brother Luke about this, he never told me how long Joseph and Mary had been in Bethlehem before Jesus was born. But they would have known that Mary was near the time of giving birth, and would have realized there was no way she could have made it back to Nazareth(Luke 2:6-7). Bethlehem is such a small town, and a very poor town mainly filled with shepherds. It is a town filled more with sheep than people. I travelled there with my abba many times, as he would often purchase wool in his business. The streets of Bethlehem were not filled with inns, the way we see here, in Antioch. Bethlehem had one inn, maybe. And you can imagine what the cost of a room would have been as so many people were flooding in. A cost far more than a mere carpenter could have afforded.”
As Caleb explained to them about Bethlehem, he leaned into them more. “I am confident that Joseph would have stayed with family if he had close family there. But even then, the accommodations would not have been much. I can remember seeing the houses in Bethlehem, most were hardly enough even for a small family. And with so many being shepherds, they used part of the home to keep what they valued most, the animals. Most had rooms dug out under their home so they could bring the animals in on nights the weather demanded it. Or I can remember seeing houses they had divided, with the back half being set up to hold the animals there. Almost like caves built into the back of their homes. It was in these accommodations that Jesus would have been born, in the room where someone would have kept their animals. And from the many people that would have poured into this small town, they were very blessed to have had that simple shelter over their head, as many would have been forced to sleep on the streets.”
With all he could muster, Caleb then leaned in even more. “The Son of God came into this world that night in the most common and simple of conditions. Coming into this world as Mary laid on the cold hard earth floor of that primitive room. And as the inexperienced hands of a carpenter did all he could to help her, the room around them would have been filled with the smell of birth, mixed with the smell of hay, manure, and animals. The Child entered this world as the greatest of all Princes, but saw the conditions of the lowest pauper. And as Mary gave birth to her firstborn son, she wrapped and bound Him with strips of cloth, to comfort Him and keep Him warm. Then she took her precious son, and laid Him in an animal troth, a structure that would have been cut out in the walls so the animals could be watered and fed, allowing her child to rest.”
As the whole family sat there for a moment in silence, Uri, Caleb’s son, began to speak. “Abba, if the Lord had longed planned for the Messiah to come, then why would He have not prepared a better place for Him to be born that night?” As Caleb heard the words, he smiled. “My son, the Lord God prepared the perfect place for His Son to be born. That night, royalty was clothed in rags, as the eternal promise stepped into time. As the greatest event that had ever happened, took place that night with only a handful of people noticing. And just as He was born, He would also die. Just as they had to struggle to find a place to lay the Child when He was born, they would do the same when his life would come to an end. Again wrapping His body in cloth, and laying Him on a slab of rock that did not belong to Him(Luke 23:35). Jesus was born into meekness on that night, coming to this world as one of us. And He lived each day just the same. Always approachable, always accessible, always available to anyone who called out His name. He did not need guards to keep the people from Him, just as He did not need earthly royalty to be seen as a King. The King of kings came to us by humble means, and He lived each day by those same humble means. Miraculously coming into this world on a rock, and leaving this world the very same.”
As Caleb fought back the tears, he could see the faces of his family doing the same. In the midst of those tears, his daughter-in-law, Miriam, began to speak. “Abba, I thought I knew all that love was until I heard you tell me this story.” Caleb tried his best to speak an answer to her, but all he could do was smile. He realized that no words he could speak could have ever spoken louder than the words he has just heard her say. And after minutes of sitting in the peace and calm of the night, the family all made their way toward sleep, knowing the next night would draw them together again to hear more.
Tomorrow, as Caleb and his family come together once again, I hope your family will also join in!
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