Uphill

Today we begin worship on the second week of Advent with:

Luke 2:1-7

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In the previous chapter (Luke 1) Zechariah and Elisabeth were told their son would herald the Messiah. Their unborn son leapt in the womb to greet Mary upon her visit. And Mary sang at the opportunity to be part of God’s plan of salvation.  

The months later (Matthew 1:18-25) Joseph, assured by the angel, took Mary as his wife despite the untimely pregnancy. 

This young couple obeyed and “went” up (anabainō) to Bethlehem.  They obeyed to be registered. They obeyed to parent the Messiah. They obeyed to be an active part of God’s plan.  Their walk was 100 slow miles first up out of the natural bowl that is Nazareth, then across a series of east-west ridges, and then uphill to just south of Jerusalem, to which the Jews had ascended for generations.

Are we likewise willing to be named with Jesus?  Are we willing to walk with Him where that will take us?  Even if it is unplanned, inconvenient, and often uphill?  Even if it is a lifetime commitment?