I WONDER.... About Jesus Birth....

This summer we took a car trip to Chicago. We started out early in the morning and drove non stop all day. Around six in the evening, tired and hungry we decided to stop and get a room.
We picked one of three hotels along the highway and went in,
"We need a room for the night, do you have any vacancies?" Art asked.

" I'm so sorry. We are completely booked. There is a teachers conference in town, and all the rooms are booked. Your best bet would be the town up the road about 60 miles."

I was so disappointed. I had my heart set on stopping.
It really wasn't that big a deal, we got into the car and drove another hour and found a room.
but it was hard when the options were taken away.

I can only imagine how difficult it had to have been for Joseph and Mary after traveling for many days and not being able to find a room.


There are only seven verses in Luke that describe the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus.
Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

I had never realized before that the whole earth had to be counted in the census. I had always just thought it was the Jews. That had to have been quite an undertaking. There must have been a world wide shortage of rooms at the inns.

This decree would include even pregnant women in their ninth month no one was exempt.

All were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city.
and Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth in Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.

I WONDER...if Mary and Joseph chafed at the decree and the timing a huge interruption in their lives.
I WONDER...if when Joseph or Mary recalled the prophesy scripture that declared the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) they were humbled and amazed at God's Divine Providence. They would be in Bethlehem for the baby's birth thus fulfilling the scripture.

If all went well it would take about 5 days for the young family to reach Bethlehem from
Nazareth.
Keep in mind, Mary was nine months pregnant riding on the back of a donkey.

I WONDER...if Mary complained about her back aching?

I WONDER...if it was difficult for Mary's mother to put her on that donkey and send her off, knowing the hardship she would face alone?

I WONDER...if Mary was in labor those last few miles on the donkey?

I WONDER...when they arrived in town and there was no room at the inn, what Mary thought, and how many prayers she prayed.

I WONDER...at their relief when they were given the barn with its privacy.

And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.

I WONDER....how difficult it was for Mary having the baby all alone without the help of a midwife. I wonder what happened in the barn that night.

Obviously, Mary had packed her bags and had clean cloths to wrap the baby in.
I WONDER...what she thought when she layed eyes on her firstborn son for the first time?

I WONDER...if Joseph looking at the newborn infant fell to his knees beside the manger, realizing this was the one the angel had spoke of, this was the Messiah.

God must not have thought it necessary for us to know, because He left us to WONDER about many things that could have happened that night.