In Nazareth, a small town not far from the Sea of Galilee, a young girl of about 15 goes about her daily chores. She is obedient to her parents and devoted to Jehovah. She has been taught the Jewish law and traditions from an early age by her mother. She is familiar with the story of Jehovah’s choice of a holy nation through which He will send a Savior. She knows the anticipation of Israel and the heartbreak of the long wait for Messiah.
She is betrothed to a young man of the village, a carpenter. The betrothal ceremony was brief and arranged entirely by the parents of the couple. It was as binding as marriage is in our day and could be broken only by divorce.
In the midst of her everyday life, on an ordinary day, an extraordinary visitor appears. There is no doubt that this is an angel. In fact, it is the angel, Gabriel, God’s messenger. And the young girl is Mary. Gabriel tells her that she will bear the Messiah and will call his name, Jesus. Mary asks how this can be since she is a virgin. The angel assures her that she will be with child by the Holy Spirit.
In the year 2009 this would not be a problem. In the year 33bc it was a very deadly problem. The punishment for out-of-wedlock pregnancy was to be taken to a cliff, thrown over it and stoned to death. When she told Joseph what had happened he did not believe her story. Sadly, he retuned to his home and considered his options. He could publicly denounce her, whereupon she would very likely be stoned. He could marry her quickly and give the child his name. Or, he could divorce her privately and send her away; saving her life but abandoning her and the child.
Joseph loved Mary deeply and felt torn apart by the dilemma. Sleep finally came to him and while he slept, Gabriel appeared to him in a dream and confirmed what Mary had told him; that her child was indeed of God and he was to take her as his wife and guard the child. This he did and the two of them settled down to live in Nazareth where Joseph would continue to work as a carpenter.
But Caesar Augustus changed their plans by ordering all citizens to return to the city of their ancestors to be counted and taxed. That meant that Mary, who by now was almost at the end of her pregnancy, must also go to Bethlehem, the City of their ancestor, David.
Mary packed the few clothes they owned along with the swaddling cloths for the new baby. The young couple packed bread and water and arranged the saddlebags upon the little donkey with room for Mary to ride when she was too weary to walk. Mary must have looked back with longing at the modest little home they were leaving. Joseph was also worried about leaving his business and about the safety of Mary and her child. It would be a long journey of 70 to 80 miles. Nights would be spent sleeping on the ground away from the main road and it would take them many days. Their goal was Bethlehem and the most longed for birth in history.