Uplook - December 21, 2024
Dear Seattle Saints,
I’m writing this early this morning because like many of you we are busy in preparation for Christmas programs, family gatherings, and upcoming travel. Speaking of travel…have you ever considered the amazing amount of travel which is involved in the Christmas story? Consider the trek of Joseph and his very pregnant wife Mary from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem. The most likely route would have taken them east to the Jordan River and then south to Jericho before heading west into the mountains where Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem were located. Scholars believe that route would have been around 90 miles and a four day journey (covering approximately 2 ½ miles per hour for 8 hours daily). Contrary to popular belief, it is quite unlikely that Joseph was wealthy enough to own a donkey upon which Mary could ride based upon the later redemption offering made for Jesus at the Temple. Now that is quite a walk for even a young woman who is that close to birth.
It seems the shepherds had the shortest journey from the hillsides of Bethlehem into town. Just a relatively short walk into town to the manger site.
Then there is the daunting trek of the Magi from the east. The ground traveling distance between Babylon (near modern day Baghdad) to Jerusalem is about 900 miles so after their preparation and at a pace of 20 miles daily it would have taken them at least several months to arrive. And then the short 6 mile journey following the star to Bethlehem. Hence the scriptures refer to Jesus as a “young child”. Some scholars believe that even after their departure it was some time before Herod realized he had been tricked and then ordered a slaughter of children under the age of 2 in Bethlehem.
Which brings us to the final travel sequence in the story, that of the new family’s journey at God’s instruction to Egypt for protection. While the shortest distance from Bethlehem to the Egyptian border was only about 40 miles it is likely they journeyed into the interior of the country to assure their safety. Tradition suggests they ended up a full three days journey. We traveled by plane recently and watched several parents navigating the rigors of travel with small children and it made me wonder at the difficulty of this travel with a small child. And finally there was the return trip to Israel after the death of Herod, but because his son reigned in his place they bypassed Bethlehem traveling on to Nazareth which again depending on their departure point would have been several hundred miles more, again with an infant child.
All of this leave us to consider the greatest distance spanned in the entire story. The distance from Heavenly Glory to human infancy. I suspect was the greatest distance that was traveled spanning all creation and multiple dimensions beyond our understanding. And that distance was spanned because of God’s love for you and for me. May we not weary in the distances we must travel to gather together to worship Him this week knowing that He has spanned the greater distance to make it possible.
And…if you are in town, make the short trek to our Christmas Musical “A Sounding Joy” on Sunday at 11 am or our annual Carols and Candles service at 5 pm. Both will be streamed for those of you who are unable to attend in person. And please note there will be no Bible Study on Christmas or New Years Day.
God bless you all.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
I’m writing this early this morning because like many of you we are busy in preparation for Christmas programs, family gatherings, and upcoming travel. Speaking of travel…have you ever considered the amazing amount of travel which is involved in the Christmas story? Consider the trek of Joseph and his very pregnant wife Mary from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem. The most likely route would have taken them east to the Jordan River and then south to Jericho before heading west into the mountains where Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem were located. Scholars believe that route would have been around 90 miles and a four day journey (covering approximately 2 ½ miles per hour for 8 hours daily). Contrary to popular belief, it is quite unlikely that Joseph was wealthy enough to own a donkey upon which Mary could ride based upon the later redemption offering made for Jesus at the Temple. Now that is quite a walk for even a young woman who is that close to birth.
It seems the shepherds had the shortest journey from the hillsides of Bethlehem into town. Just a relatively short walk into town to the manger site.
Then there is the daunting trek of the Magi from the east. The ground traveling distance between Babylon (near modern day Baghdad) to Jerusalem is about 900 miles so after their preparation and at a pace of 20 miles daily it would have taken them at least several months to arrive. And then the short 6 mile journey following the star to Bethlehem. Hence the scriptures refer to Jesus as a “young child”. Some scholars believe that even after their departure it was some time before Herod realized he had been tricked and then ordered a slaughter of children under the age of 2 in Bethlehem.
Which brings us to the final travel sequence in the story, that of the new family’s journey at God’s instruction to Egypt for protection. While the shortest distance from Bethlehem to the Egyptian border was only about 40 miles it is likely they journeyed into the interior of the country to assure their safety. Tradition suggests they ended up a full three days journey. We traveled by plane recently and watched several parents navigating the rigors of travel with small children and it made me wonder at the difficulty of this travel with a small child. And finally there was the return trip to Israel after the death of Herod, but because his son reigned in his place they bypassed Bethlehem traveling on to Nazareth which again depending on their departure point would have been several hundred miles more, again with an infant child.
All of this leave us to consider the greatest distance spanned in the entire story. The distance from Heavenly Glory to human infancy. I suspect was the greatest distance that was traveled spanning all creation and multiple dimensions beyond our understanding. And that distance was spanned because of God’s love for you and for me. May we not weary in the distances we must travel to gather together to worship Him this week knowing that He has spanned the greater distance to make it possible.
And…if you are in town, make the short trek to our Christmas Musical “A Sounding Joy” on Sunday at 11 am or our annual Carols and Candles service at 5 pm. Both will be streamed for those of you who are unable to attend in person. And please note there will be no Bible Study on Christmas or New Years Day.
God bless you all.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
August
November
2023
January
February
April
September
October
November