THE TWELVE JOURNEYS OF CHRISTMAS
JOURNEY 0NE: Zechariah’s journey to Jerusalem
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Zechariah the priest kissed his wife goodbye as he left his village in the hill country to go to Jerusalem - but His wife Elizabeth was a little bit lost. She would be all alone for several weeks because she had no children for company. She had become used to that, but it was still hard to live with the disappointment. Zechariah, however, must have been excited to fulfil this once in a lifetime opportunity to minister in Herod’s newly built temple - but he had no idea of what was about to happen. As Zechariah was burning incense in the Holy Place, the angel Gabriel who had appeared to Daniel five hundred years before with prophetic words about the Messiah also appeared to him with the message that in their old age his wife would have a baby who would prepare the way for the Messiah. The journey of life is full of surprises but with God there’s always more - it’s never too late to have a new encounter with God if we are open to it!
JOURNEY TWO: Zechariah’s journey back to the Hill Country
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As Zechariah took the long journey back home after his priestly service in Jerusalem, he was a changed man. He had seen an angel in the Temple but had doubted Gabriel’s message so now he could not speak any more words of doubt. But it wasn’t all bad news – the good news was that in their old age his wife, was going to have a baby who would be a prophet - like Elijah. Zechariah had nine months to think, so as he saw that his wife was truly pregnant, when the baby was finally born – he was in no doubt that Gabriel’s message was true. When it came to naming the child, he insisted on naming him John as the angel had instructed him. As soon as he did that, his mouth was opened God and these are among the first words he spoke: “You my child will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him – to give his people the knowledge of salvation.” Notice he said: “My child!” He no doubt knew the words of the prophet Malachi and he realised how he and Elizabeth were intimately involved in God’s great eternal plan! As those who know the one who John the Baptist prepared the way for – we also are involved in the outworking of God’s plans to this very day!
JOURNEY THREE: Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth
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Gabriel had told Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah and that Elizabeth her relative was pregnant in her old age, so Mary quickly decided to go and visit her. So why did Mary take that journey in the early stage of her own pregnancy? Not to escape prying eyes – because there was nothing to see yet. No - Elizabeth was the only other person in the world who would understand – and she surely did. As Mary walked through the door Elizabeth said: “Why am I so favoured that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” There are times in life when only someone who has gone through a similar journey as you, can truly understand and help you. When that happens, call on that person - they will be honoured that you came to them for support and prayer - and together you will see what God will do.
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JOURNEY FOUR: Mary’s journey home to Nazareth
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Mary had taken the journey from Nazareth to the hill country to see her relative Elizabeth who by this time was miraculously six months pregnant in her old age. Since Mary stayed with her for about three months it seems reasonable that she would have stayed for the birth, but when that was over, it was time to make the journey home. What could Mary be thinking as she travelled along? - Nothing showing yet, but how will Joseph be? She needn’t have worried - God had taken care of everything – Joseph already knew - and he was ready for all the consequences. Anything God asks us to do – He will always give us the wherewithal to do it and the people around us to help us – He’s always way ahead of us – we don’t need to worry about anything – just trust fully in Him.
JOURNEY FIVE: Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem
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Rome’s first Emperor, Caesar Augustus – didn’t know it, but he was the one who caused Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem and thus fulfil a seven-hundred-year-old prophecy that the Messiah would be born there. Joseph and Mary quickly married after they knew what was happening, but nobody could tell exactly how many months pregnant she was when they set out on their journey to Bethlehem and since they did not finally return to Nazareth until about 2 years later, no one would ever know exactly when their baby had been born. God had saved their reputation by sending them to Bethlehem. Often, in our journey of life we dread the things that are before us - but so long as we are in God’s hands – as we go forward, we find that it’s not so bad as we feared – God has taken care of it all, sometimes in the most unexpected way!
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When Mary and Joseph finally arrived in Bethlehem, having travelled about 70 miles all the way from Nazareth, try as they did, they could find nowhere to stay. Even if we are in the centre of God’s will - like Mary and Joseph were, still we can hit obstacles along the way. The journey had not been easy - however slowly they took it, and the accommodation when they arrived was far from comfortable, but God was with them – spiritually and literally in a physical way. When the child was born - the baby that Mary laid in a manger was Emmanuel – God with them - and God with us. We all have a different journey to walk through in life, and it is not easy for anyone, but with Jesus in our lives we can all have the same experience of the presence of God - with us - every step of the way!
JOURNEY SIX: The journey of the Shepherds to Bethlehem
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When the shepherds set out in the middle of the night on their short journey from the fields into Bethlehem village, they were in no doubt about what they were looking for. First one angel had appeared to them telling them that the Messiah had been born that night - and then the sky was filled with angels praising God. How amazing and earthshattering was that! But how were they going to find this baby? All they knew was that when they did, they would recognise him because he would be lying in a manger – which was totally unheard of - even for the poorest of the poor. See how the Son of God humbled himself as the lowest of the low to become like us!
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Having somehow found the baby Jesus, there was no doubt whatsoever in the minds of the shepherds that they had seen the newborn Messiah – the Saviour of the world. Presumably they had gone around Bethlehem listening out and looking for signs of activity in the middle of the night. Then to the surprise of Mary herself, they had found him – wrapped in swaddling clothes - in a manger just as the angel had said. As the shepherds left, they were totally ecstatic. The angel had told them that this was news of great joy for all people – and they were the first to fulfil that by telling everyone they met what had happened. Christmas is a great opportunity to tell people the good news of the coming of the Saviour – so let’s look for all kinds of ways to share the joy this Christmas. There are lots of people today, on their journey of life - who are looking for something – some meaning to life. The good news is that millions around the world have found it – in the One who was born in Bethlehem in such a humble way that Christmas night.
JOURNEY SEVEN: Mary & Joseph’s journey to Jerusalem
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Five weeks and five days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph started on the five-mile journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. This was to fulfil the law of Moses about purification after childbirth and to offer the necessary sacrifice in the Temple. Those who could afford it, sacrificed a lamb - but Mary and Joseph were obviously poor and offered two small birds instead. They were surprised during their visit when an old man, Simeon, came up to them and took the baby in his arms and praised God saying: “My eyes have seen Your salvation!” He was quickly followed by Anna, a very old lady who also recognised who the child was and gave thanks to God that His redemption had come. The ‘coincidence’ of meeting those two prayerful people who spoke independently about the child is one example of God’s perfect timing that occurs again and again in the events of Christmas. Israel had waited for hundreds of years for the coming of the Messiah but he came in the fulness of time. God has a time for everything – and a perfect time for events in your life too.
JOURNEY EIGHT: The Magi leave the East & journey to the land of Israel
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To go on a long journey can be very exciting - but also very hard work. The preparations and planning with gathering supplies and packing - not to mention the journey itself - can be very tiring. After months of planning the Magi excitedly embarked on their epic, up to, 1000-mile journey to find the King of the Jews. They had spent their whole lives studying the stars and their ancient books so when they saw the star sign in the East, they were totally convinced that a most momentous historical event had taken place in Israel. There are many theories about the nature of that star, but they were 100 percent correct in their conclusion about the nature of the Child who had been born. For those of us who have believed that Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star, it’s a lifetime journey of discovery that goes on and on - and never disappoints!
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JOURNEY NINE: The Magi travel to Bethlehem
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When the Magi completed their long journey from the East they arrived in the wrong place! The Royal Palace in Jerusalem was the logical place to meet the newborn King of the Jews - but instead they met the Idumaean King - Herod. Herod was obviously impressed by the fact that the wise men had undertaken such a momentous journey and that they were so sure about who the Child was. So, when Herod checked with his advisors about the birthplace of the Messiah - the Magi were soon on last leg of their journey to Bethlehem.
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The sudden appearance of the star above them to show where the child was - was truly miraculous because it must have been set in motion millions of years before! Contrary to popular belief, the Magi had not “followed the star.” The last time they had seen it was back home in the east. They had set out in faith. In just the same way – our salvation was planned before the foundation of the world but it’s a step of faith to receive it and once we have done that, it is still a journey of faith to the end until we finally arrive in Glory to worship our King forever and ever!
JOURNEY TEN: The Magi secretly travel back to the East
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The wise men had travelled possibly up to 1000 miles from the East to see a baby – all because their astronomical studies had convinced them that he was the most amazing Child that had ever been born - after all, how many children have their own star? They were not disappointed. They worshipped the One who was born King (that never happens – at best someone is born TO BE king, but Jesus was BORN KING)!
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Those Magi got it right - their journey was a total success - but King Herod was a worried man. Herod determined to kill all the boys around Bethlehem who were two years old and under and he had told the Magi to report back - which in all innocence they intended to do – but their divine satnav rerouted their journey back to the East a different way. The devil tries to oppose God’s purposes every way that he can but – the child who was born King is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah - and He will always prevail. If we belong to Him, we will too, through Him.
JOURNEY ELEVEN: The Holy Family’s journey to Egypt
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Once the Magi had left, Mary and Joseph embarked on their journey to Egypt probably to Alexandria where there was a big Jewish community, to escape the murderous plans of King Herod. That journey made Jesus a stranger in a strange land. Along with His earthly parents Jesus became a REFUGEE. This identifies him with millions today. There are millions of refugees in the world today with something like 5 million from Syria alone. God’s love came down into the dust and dirt of this world in the person of his Son. Jesus identified Himself with all of humanity’s suffering - He encountered threats, danger, and rejection almost as soon as He arrived - but He gladly went through all of that right up to His despicable death on a cross to show us that God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. This is the precious message entrusted to the Church to share with the world until He comes the second time.
JOURNEY TWELVE: Mary & Joseph return to Israel and arrive at Nazareth
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King Herod the Great had ordered his soldiers to go and kill all the boys two years old and under - in and around Bethlehem. Within a matter of months Herod himself died a most agonising death. The holy family were refugees in Egypt having escaped Herod’s plans but now they were able to take the journey back to Israel when an angel informed Joseph that it was safe to return. However, when they arrived, Joseph discovered that Herod’s equally cruel and wicked son, Archelaus was ruling in his place, and Joseph was directed by an angel to continue their journey right up to the safe haven of Nazareth which was regarded as a backwater by upper class Jews. Years later Nathanael sarcastically commented “Can any good thing come from Nazareth?” He soon discovered that he was wrong. When he met Jesus for himself, Nathanael quickly changed his mind and declared “You are the Son of God!” Many orthodox Jews are still waiting for the Messiah and even to the present day there are some who are claiming to be the Messiah, but we know - based on all the evidence of the
Christmas events that the Messiah came two thousand years ago and we are awaiting His glorious return!
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