While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. - Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)
Read Luke 2:1-7
In Luke 2:6, we read, "While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born." This phrase, "the time came," marks a culmination of events that began with a miraculous moment but continued in the ordinariness of daily life. After the Holy Spirit's overshadowing in Luke 1, we have no reason to believe that Mary’s pregnancy did not proceed as any other pregnancy would—complete with the three trimesters and the accompanying discomforts, like morning sickness, back pain, and fatigue.
Heavy with child, Mary and Joseph embarked on a 65-mile journey, 4 or 5 days, from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This was no easy journey, especially for a woman about to give birth. Though the Bible doesn't specify, tradition often depicts Mary riding a donkey while Joseph walked beside her. This mode of travel would have been slow and uncomfortable, with the bumpy terrain adding to Mary’s physical strain. The journey also posed significant dangers. Roads at that time were often fraught with threats, including encounters with bandits and wild animals.
Imagine Mary’s swollen feet and aching back as she endured the long travel days, compounded by the constant awareness of these dangers. She likely faced emotional stress, worrying about giving birth far from home. Yet, she pressed on. This highlights her incredible strength and resilience, as she is grounded in faith and trust in God's plan.
As they reached Bethlehem, weary and anxious, Mary’s time came. In the humblest of settings, with no room available, she gave birth to Jesus—the Savior of the world.
The ordinariness of Mary’s pregnancy and journey reminds us that God works through the everyday events of our lives. It is in the mundane and the ordinary that the extraordinary can happen. Mary’s story encourages us to trust God’s timing and presence in our lives.
Connection: God chose to enter the world through ordinary circumstances, making His love and grace accessible to all.
Perseverance: Just as Mary faced challenges and uncertainties with faith, we too can find strength in our trials.
Hope: The humble beginnings of Jesus’ birth remind us that great things can come from the most unexpected and ordinary places.
Lord, thank You for the reminder that You are with us in the ordinary moments of life. Help us to see Your presence in our daily struggles and triumphs. Give us the strength to persevere and the faith to trust in Your perfect timing. May we always find hope in Your humble yet extraordinary entrance into our world. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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