God’s Protection on Mary and on Us
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1-7)
Joseph went from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judaea, a distance of about 90 miles. He did so because he was of the house and lineage of David. Caesar had commanded people to go to the city of their lineage to be taxed. Joseph also took his pregnant wife Mary on the journey. There was no modern transportation, and we can assume Mary either walked herself or rode on a beast, such as a donkey.
Why did Caesar’s command require Mary to come all that distance in her condition? Galilee and Judaea were both under the control of Rome, so Caesar would have gotten his tax money if Joseph and Mary had stayed in Galilee. Historians may say Caesar was also holding a census and wanted to identify people. That explanation no doubt has some truth. Yet a far more sinister reason makes sense, as well.
The Bible says Satan goes “…to and fro in the earth,” (Job 1:7) He watches what goes on in the world. He saw when Gabriel visited Mary, so he knew her baby was the One God had talked about in the Garden of Eden; the Saviour who would bruise the serpent’s head and destroy him. He wanted the baby killed.
We have no indicators that Caesar Augustus was a godly man. He may have been a decent individual compared to, say, Nero. Nero made a public spectacle of persecuting Christians. Among other brutal measures, he had Christians dressed in animal skins and torn apart by dogs. (Uggerud, Kristoffer, “The Early Christian Martyrs: Persecutions in the Roman Empire” thecollector.com, 6/10/23)
Yet Augustus worshiped pagan gods and allowed himself to be worshiped as a god (Zavada, Jack, “Who Was Caesar Augustus?” learn Religions.com, 9/14/2020) Thus he was tempted by the devil to do sinful things, like force a pregnant lady to travel ninety miles for a tax.
Two things could have happened on the journey. Mary could have had a miscarriage. No medical care was available on the journey that we know of. She also could have gone into labor and given birth on the way there. Had that happened, Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 says, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” If Jesus had been born elsewhere, that prophecy would not be true, and the word of God as a whole would be untrustworthy.
In our age, the Bible is our main source of doctrine, so God not only protected her, but He protected us. Most importantly, the Bible tells us how to have eternal life by receiving the Lord Jesus as our personal Saviour. If you want to know more, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 12/22/2023
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822