Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem

The verse anchor

“And Joseph also went up... unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem... To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”

Luke 2:4-5 · King James Bible

The story

In a small town called Nazareth, a young woman named Mary was going to have a baby soon. The baby was a very special baby — the Son of God Himself. But she and her husband Joseph did not have a big house or servants or fancy things. They were poor and simple and good.

And the emperor, who was very far away, decided everyone had to travel to their family town to be counted. So Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, all the way south. That was many long, dusty days of walking.

Mary rode most of the way on a little grey donkey. Joseph walked beside her. They stopped at wells for water. They ate bread and dates. At night, they slept in olive groves under the stars, and Mary sang softly to the baby that was almost, almost here.

Days later, tired and sore, they came to Bethlehem. The town was full. Every guest room, every corner, every mat on the floor of every house was already taken.

And so, on a cold night, in a stable behind an inn, with only the warm breath of the animals for a lullaby, Mary held her tiny baby, and Joseph wrapped Him in strips of cloth, and they laid Him in a feeding trough for a bed.

God had come. But He came the way most children come — through a long road, a poor family, and a very ordinary night that turned out to be the most important night the world has ever known.

Memory verse

Say it three times before bed. In seven days you will know it forever.

A prayer