“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered..... and
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of Bethlehem ... to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child” (Luke 2:1-5).

Our journey starts in Nazareth .... a small, out of the way farming village of 300-400 inhabitants. There
was a Roman garrison nearby and although most of the villagers wanted to live peaceable, they couldn’t
forget that Israel was under firm Roman occupation. Octavian (called by his title “Caesar Augustus”) was
the ruler of the Roman Empire at the time Jesus was born. Although the “Pax Romana” had established a
great network of roads, a courier system, and improved infrastructure and education, it was unimaginably
callous in squashing anyone considered a threat.

Taxes must be raised to support the standing army and the luxurious lifestyles of the upper class Romans.
Little tolerance was shown to those daring to question the authority of Romes appointees. Julius Caesar
had appointed Herod as “King of Judea”. Although a master architect, he was also a cruel despot who
murdered his own wife and several of his sons. It is no surprise that such a king could murder babies
when suspicion was aroused that his authority might be challenged.

Yet in this time of fear and polarization, God chose to push apart the curtain between heaven and earth
and send a tiny Baby who had the authority to change the course of history. Rather than destroy the
wicked monarch, He called on men to forgive, to trust Him, to look for a Kingdom not of this world.
Before His death when questioned by Pilot he replied “My Kingdom is not of this world”. We are also
called to live in this often confusing and polarized world while we are also pilgrims on the road to a better
Kingdom. We travel with the knowledge that our destination is sure!

And so in the midst of a tumultuous and dangerous time, Joseph took his very pregnant betrothed, and set
off on a hundred mile journey over bandit-infested deserts and rough roads. We can only imagine the
confusion in his mind, the questions about providence, the desperate hope that God had a plan in the midst
of the chaos ... the faith that an angel was leading the way!