Family Devotions December 13-19
Part 1

Week of December 13 – 19

The Long Journey To Bethlehem

Read:

Luke 2.1-6

A long, long time ago a man named Augustus became the first emperor of Rome (to be an emperor is like being a king but even more powerful).

Augustus made a law that said everyone who lived within the Roman empire had to be counted (this is called a census). So, everyone had to go to their hometown to register for the census.

Joseph needed to go to Bethlehem to register for the census because he was a great, great, great, great, great grandson of David…

and David was born in Bethlehem.

Joseph was living in a town called Nazareth and it was 90 miles from Bethlehem. Back in those days, you just had to walk (and this was a long walk!).

Joseph was engaged to Mary, so they would need to travel together to Bethlehem. She was pregnant and about to have a child
any day. This was not an easy journey!

Joseph walked and Mary rode on a donkey. They went as far as they could each day… maybe even as many as 10 miles. After
about 9 or 10 days, they finally arrived in Bethlehem where it was crowded and busy because of everyone coming to register for the census.

Just as they arrived, it was time for Mary to have her baby.

Discussion

What do you think it was like for Mary and Joseph to travel those 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem?

What was the longest hike you’ve ever been on?

When you go for long walks or long drives in the car, what do you like to talk about? What do you think Mary and Joseph talked about?

Family Project

Go for a drive somewhere (maybe up to the mountains or out in the country – somewhere without lots of traffic and stop lights). Keep the radio and other electronic devices off. Talk about your hopes and dreams for the future.