How Far Will You Go

I have a good friend that lives in the state of Indiana and when he comes down he and his family like to go to Stone Mountain. Now they drive over 450 miles to do so, I only live about 20 miles from the Mountain and the only time I go is when they are here. It’s funny that you can live so close to something and almost never go while others drive 100’s of miles to see it. In Luke Chapter 2 and verse 1 we read And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  Then we read in verse 4 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:)

Luke 2:5  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. From Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles; normally it would take about 4 days to make that trip. But Mary nearing her pregnancy term and riding a donkey it would require more than 4 days for fear of a miscarriage. So it took probably a week or more to make the trip. After a week or more Joseph and Mary finally arrived in Bethlehem now can you imagine the people that were there? I mean didn’t we just read that the whole world should be taxed. Now there was somewhat of a break not everyone went to Bethlehem.

Luke 2:3   And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. None the less I’m sure there were people all over Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary had traveled 80 or so miles to pay taxes but while they were there baby Jesus was born. The Sheppard’s traveled only a short distance to see Jesus.  Herod the king gathered all the chief priests and scribes and demanded where Christ should be born and they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judaea. Now what is interesting about that is Herod didn’t take the time to go about 5 miles to see Jesus and neither did the chief priest and scribes. Jesus wasn’t all that interesting to the King or the Religious leaders of that day. My friends drive 450 miles to see Stone Mountain I will not drive 20. Joseph and Mary take a week to go and pay taxes but the Priest and Scribes will not walk 5 miles. Many get in their cars and drive to Church just to hear about Jesus while others head off somewhere else. I wonder how important Jesus is to each of us? If we had been in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born would we have went after we had heard the good news from the shepherds?

Luke 2:16  And they(shepherds) came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Luke 2:17  And when they had seen it, (baby Jesus) they (the shepherds)  made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Luke 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Which are more important paying taxes or seeing Jesus? Which one do we do the most pay taxes or hear about Jesus?