The Bethlehem Candle symbolizes Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. As we light the second Advent Candle, we remember the journey they made from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
I find myself wondering how Mary and Joseph must have felt. They were young and God chose them – once again, using ordinary people to execute His extraordinary plan.
During those days, the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, ordered that the first census be taken throughout his empire. (Quirinius was the governor of Syria at that time.) Everyone had to travel to his or her hometown to complete the mandatory census. So Joseph and his fiancée, Mary, left Nazareth, a village in Galilee, and journeyed to their hometown in Judea, to the village of Bethlehem, King David’s ancient home. They were required to register there since they were both direct descendants of David. Mary was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth.
Luke 2:1-5 [The Passion Translation]
Although the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem is not great, it was an arduous journey for the young couple. Slow and steady, and finally they arrived in Bethlehem, only to find that all hotels, motels, Airbnb’s, B&Bs were fully booked, and every spare room taken. There was nowhere for them to stay. But … there was a barn, a stable. A safe place, safe from the elements.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary went into labour, and there she gave birth to her firstborn son.
Luke 2:6 [The Passion Translation]
As a first-time mom, I remember being very happy to be in the hospital with competent nurses and doctors monitoring every moment of the birth of my child. Mary didn’t have that luxury. At that time, babies were born at home and the midwives and women of the village were in attendance to help a woman through the childbirth process. Mary found herself in an unfamiliar place with no mother close by. Was a midwife called to help her? The scriptures don’t say, but I would imagine that someone would have been there to help her. Joseph was probably outside pacing up and down as was the custom of the time. Men were not permitted to present at the birth. We don’t know where Joseph was during the birth. What we do know is that our precious Messiah was born.
Jesus was born in the humblest of settings. No fancy crib or bassinette for this baby. Just the swaddling clothes and a mother’s love, bringing love, forgiveness and eternal life with Him.
Voyage through Life 