Luke 2:1 to 7: "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."
The Christmas story as it is known begins with the route of the Holy Family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, as it has come to us through the gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament. Unlike the later Flight into Egypt, we know little of the journey to Bethlehem itself.
The Journey to Bethlehem
It will surprise some Christians to realize that the journey to Bethlehem is in fact the only known time that Christ, the Virgin Mary, or Joseph ever came to the sleepy little Judaean town of Bethlehem.
Beit Lahem, meaning in Aramaic (the language spoken by Christ) "The House of Meat", is an ancient town located some 8 miles to the southeast of the Old City of Jerusalem. Joseph, being of the House of David, had an obligation to be registered for a census under the Roman government. As the Holy Land was a client state of Rome managed by King Herod but under the watchful eyes of the Roman ruler Quirinius, it is possible that the census was in fact something of a political rather than economic exercise.
Many Christians honor this sacred journey by bringing home a hand carved olive wood Holy Family statue from Bethlehem, a tangible link to the very place where Jesus Christ was born.
What Route Would the Holy Family Have Taken to Bethlehem?
As with today, there are two plausible routes:
- From Nazareth down the Jordan Valley, then through to Jerusalem, and finally on to Bethlehem.
- Or east of Jerusalem and through Bethlehem directly. This route, however, is quite difficult with little water available. The more plausible route seems to be the overland journey from the lower Galilee directly to Jerusalem, then on to Bethlehem. Christian tradition seems to hold with this possibility, as several churches between Jerusalem and Bethlehem were constructed during the Byzantine period to commemorate the journey of the Holy Family.
The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem is approximately 70 miles. While this may seem relatively short today, bear in mind that the Holy Family traveled by foot and on donkey, over stone paths and roads that would be dusty in warm weather and muddy in rain. The journey would have been fraught with peril even in the best of circumstances, and without the comforts of home, to say nothing of the challenges the Virgin Mary endured being well into her pregnancy.
The Christmas Story Lives On Today
This Christmas, as you and your family make your own journeys, remember the plight of the Holy Family as they journeyed to Bethlehem so long ago. Pray for the safety of all those traveling, especially those in great need, throughout the world.
Bring the Holy Land into your home this Christmas with a hand carved olive wood Holy Family statue, an olive wood Nativity scene, or a Christmas ornament from Bethlehem, made by Christian artisans in the very town where Jesus Christ was born.
Bethlehem Handicrafts brings the Holy Land into your hands. Every piece is hand carved in Bethlehem by Christian families preserving an ancient craft.
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