Advent: Mary's Challenging Year

Christmas is about Jesus, but it would not be celebrated without the faith, determination and joy of a young woman named Mary.

You know that.

Mary was probably about 14, living in the hill country southwest of the Sea of Galilee when a most unexpected event occurred: an angel appeared to her.

We discussed the incident in detail in my post about Elizabeth and Mary, but I’ve been marveling at the aplomb with which this young woman reacted.

It’s important to note a fourteen year-old was a mature young woman in that time and place.

She would have been well versed in the stories we now find in the Old Testament, knew how to care for a home and was preparing for marriage to a devout man named Joseph.

Nothing about her in the text indicates an extraordinary woman, other than the mention she had “found favor with God.”

Think of it, though. God chose her to be the mother of his child.

God looked through all the course of history and determined this young woman could best rear his son/himself in the humanity of man–to know what it meant to learn to walk, eat vegetables, memorize Torah and prepare for his father’s business.

She and Joseph also provided him with siblings, so Jesus, God, grew up knowing what it meant to share.

The challenging first nine months

But the first nine months, her pregnancy with the Son of God, had trials.

First she had to explain what happened to Joseph–which put her at risk for stoning.

Who knows what she told her family, but they agreed to her visiting Elizabeth, a 75-100 mile trip at a time when walking was the usual transport for non-wealthy people.

She stayed with Elizabeth and Zacharias for three months and then must have walked home, unless she could ride in a litter. Remember, someone would have traveled with her–she wouldn’t be traveling alone.

Meanwhile, back in Nazareth

She returned to Nazareth where she learned Joseph had had a supernatural experience–he believed her story and arranged to marry her.

This would be earlier than customary and by now the neighbors would realize she was pregnant.

Surely, Mary was relieved, but Joseph’s decision meant he joined her in the shame. They both knew the truth, perhaps her parents did as well, but none of the neighbors would have believed the story.

Nine months into the pregnancy, when she would have been preparing to nestled down and give birth to her first child, her devout husband had to take her with him to Bethlehem for the Roman census.

Why then?

I don’t know. Perhaps they waited as long as possible, hoping the baby would come before they had to travel?

Bethlehem

God knew the right timing and place, but wouldn’t they have been checking the Scriptures and learned the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? See Micah 5:2.

Would she have suspected they’d end up in Egypt? See Hosea 11:1.

Maybe they did know all the above!

Mary had to go with Joseph, so she said goodbye to her family and joined her husband on another 80 mile (111 kilometer) trip to the Judean hill country–where the inhabitants were still buzzing about the miraculous birth to Elizabeth and Zacharias.

I can’t imagine what Mary’s family thought when she followed her husband south.

At Bethlehem–with kinfolk or without?

Here’s a question, though. Would Mary and Joseph have traveled alone, or in an entourage of family? Wouldn’t all of their family have needed to return to King David’s ancestral village for the census? (Consider Luke 2: 41-42, the family traveled to Jerusalem for Passover together).

The text says nothing about family, but it does not indicate they traveled alone, either. All we know is that by the time they arrived in Bethlehem–a town packed with kinfolk–there was no room for them at an inn.

They ended up in a warm shelter where she gave birth. She swaddled her child and laid him in a manger for a crib.

That’s a lot to have happened in less than a year to any young woman.

After the birth–a conjecture

(My husband likes to point out that the Joseph family may only have been in the “stable” a short period of time. Once the shepherds arrived and announced the birth, he’s sure she’d have visitors.

Every woman in town would stop by to see the baby, check out the mother, bring food, gifts, etc.

Given they were all related to King David, Joseph may have been offered a job! By the time the wise men arrived, it could have been months, maybe even a year, and the family undoubtedly had a real home. Don’t let the creches fool you!)

Regardless of what happened, Mary had a significant year: given to her by God, encouraged by family also experiencing miracles, and in combination with a good man and “God with Us.”

Filled with shame, potential death, possible worry, plenty of hiking, uncertainty and youth, Mary, the mother of Jesus, approached her God and her confinement with a humble, blessed confidence.

Can we do any less in our lives?

A blessed nativity to you all!

Tweetables

Mary had quite a year, but God was with her! Click to Tweet

Might Mary and Joseph have traveled with family to Bethlehem? Click to Tweet

Why didn’t Mary and Joseph check the Messianic prophecies? Or did they? Click to Tweet