Long Journey Home

   A lot of us celebrate Christmas with a journey back to our family homes.  We gather our gifts, food and clothing for festivities with family.  Hopefully, it is a joyous time reconnecting.

    Joseph returned home for the first Christmas. He did not find the warmest of welcomes with his very pregnant fiancee.  They had traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census, but the town was overwhelmed with the crowds. There was no more place for them, or was it the welcome that was missing?  It appeared things were out of bounds for the couple. Or perhaps the animal shelter offered the privacy desired for the birth that night.

    The Christmas story is full of journeys. Gabriel the angel came to Mary and to Joseph, also to Zechariah with news of God's plan being carried forward.  Joseph and Mary made their trip and the shepherds went to town to search out the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths in a manager.

    The magi from the east traveled the farthest following the star.  They stopped in Jerusalem to check in with King Herod, then continued to the house where the couple and infant had moved. They were directed by God to go home another way, (i.e., not to Jerusalem).

    But there were a few journeys not taken that first Christmas.  King Herod didn't leave the palace, he later sent the troops on their brutal mission. He missed his chance due to pride and a desire for self preservation.  A new king signals the old king is removed or deceased.

    The religious leaders and teachers stayed at home also. They knew the time for Messiah was near.  They knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  They knew the magi came and asked for the king of the Jews.  Maybe they were busy.  Maybe they had commitments. Maybe they could have remembered from whom this baby had come.

     This year, let's find Jesus. Let's make the journey to Bethlehem.  Let's follow Him to Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane, Calvary and the Mount of Olives.  Jesus has been made our King and our Priest. He is our God, we are His people.  Let's walk with Him on the long journey home.