Plot Twist

December 23rd

Plot Twist

 

In our small life in this large world, it can feel like powerful forces in mighty places make decisions and we all fall in line, falling into the story line that they dictate, subjects subject to their script lines laid down.

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.” Luke 2:1-3

Mary and Joseph, their life had already had a major plot twist. A strange turn of events that neither saw coming. An angel’s visit. Some unexpected news. A pregnancy. It must have felt like an upending. Like the narrative they were living suddenly became a mystery novel full of tension and drama, pain and thrilling suspense.

And then this decree. Another apparent plot twist. An arduous one.

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem…” Luke 2:1-4

It takes about three seconds to read that simple line on the black and white page of scripture. They “went up” from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It sounds so simple. It wasn’t.

Nazareth to Bethlehem was a four-day journey if you are travelling quickly on foot—(about 90 miles in four days, travelling 2.5 miles every hour, eight hours a day). But Mary was in the third trimester of her pregnancy, so it is more likely that their journey took much longer, somewhere close to a week. Walking. While pregnant.

The pressure that a week long journey (possibly on foot) placed on a heavily pregnant woman should not be overlooked. Many women in those days died during childbirth under normal circumstances. Exertion over a week, traversing wilderness paths, possibly sleeping rough, being exposed to the elements… that Mary and her baby both survived this journey is in itself a hidden miracle.

Four arduous journeys are woven into the Christmas story.  This one from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Magi traveling from ‘the East’ (perhaps Babylonia) to Bethlehem. And then the flight of Mary and Joseph and the young Jesus from Bethlehem to Egypt (to avoid the wrath of Herod) and then their eventual return to Nazareth from Egypt.

The Christmas story is a story set on the road. On foot. And sometimes on the run. Two of these journeys appear to be dictated by powerful forces beyond Mary and Joseph’s control. Rome. Herod.

But appearances can be deceiving.

“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.” Luke 2:1-4

It was Caesar Augustus who issued the decree. But it was God’s purpose that he was fulfilling.

Bethlehem. It wasn’t just a location on a map. It was also a location within the long story of God’s presence with His people. And it was a location in an ancient promise.

‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’

Micah 5:2

Jacob’s wife Rachel was buried in Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19, 48:7). Naomi and her daughter in law Ruth were from Bethlehem (Ruth 1.1). And David, son of Jesse was born and anointed King over Israel in Bethlehem by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16).

Bethlehem is a location that drips rich with story, prophecy and promise. The story of a people living in fumbling partnership with God. The story of past Kings and the expectation of future kings. The story of hope for a coming Messiah.

The chief priests and teachers of the law, they knew this story. They lived in expectation of it, as the author of the book of Matthew records,

“When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:

‘“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.”’

(Matthew 2:4-6)

So when the author of this Christmas story, Luke, writes these lines down, these plot lines about this town Bethlehem and Joseph’s connection to David’s family line, he knows he writes an old and new story all at once.

“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.” Luke 2:1-4

He is writing about the fulfilment of a promise made by God…

‘“The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: when your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.’ 2 Samuel 7:11-13

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfil the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 

‘“In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 33:14-16

Mary and Joseph had a challenging journey ahead. But not one inked out letter of their story was out of place. Not even the Roman Governor dictating arduous journeys had gone off script. God was writing a large and long story, and no human power on earth, no stretching human experience, no unexpected turns of events could stop it from unfolding.

God’s hand gives us a story that the world can’t take away and momentary misspellings or confusing chapters are not a sign His pen has left our page. The Author of Life writes for us a good story, and every unexpected plot twist is foreseen and held in His grace. Sometimes, when we scan backwards over our life and see the story He has written all around us, we will see that the plot twists in themselves were the very outworking of His good will, the storyline of His grace unfolding all around us.