Perfect Timing

V-J Day in Times Square is an iconic photograph Alfred Eisenstaedt took, depicting the end of the war with Japan. Eisenstaedt didn’t know the soldier or the girl (a dental assistant). Yet, he took a picture that captured hope at perfect timing.

Roman rulers demanded that their subjects register for taxation. Families needed to go to their ancestors’ villages, towns, and cities to register themselves.

“Joseph went from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was from the house of David, his forefather.” (Luke 2:4)

But he didn’t go alone.

“He went with Mariam who was betrothed to him and pregnant.” (2:5)

Greek has several metaphors for pregnancy. The most common phrases are “to have in the stomach” and “carry in the womb.” Others include: “to receive together” and “sowing the seed.” Luke used none of these here but the adjective enkuo, a combination of “receive” and “bed,” that was, “to receive someone’s seed in the bed, i.e., sexual act.” As a metaphor, it referred to people having sexual relationships and women becoming pregnant. But Mariam said to Gabriel, and Gabriel confirmed that she had not been with a man; she hadn’t had a sexual relationship with Joseph (Luke 1:34). Instead, she was pregnant because the Holy Spirit came to her and the power of the Highest overshadowed her (Luke 1:35). Yet, Luke used this verb to show how Joseph treated Mariam – not as pregnant with someone’s baby, but as pregnant with his baby by being in bed with him, although she hadn’t slept with him.

While Joseph and Mariam were in Bethlehem,

“The time fulfilled for her to give birth. She gave birth to her son, the firstborn, and she wrapped him and laid him in a feeding trough since the upper room had no place.” (Luke 2:6–7)

In Nepal villages, the houses have two stories or floors. The first floor is for the livestock. The second floor was for the people. This is to protect the livestock from thieves. Similarly, ancient Hebrew houses had two stories. The ground floor was for the livestock. The second floor was for people. This floor was called the “upper room” (katalima). Jesus celebrated the Passover in such an upper room. Since there was no room in their family home in the upper (or living) room, Mary wrapped her firstborn son and laid him in a feeding trough on the first floor, where the livestock was.

Joseph’s forefather, David, was a shepherd. He would have often slept beside his flock in the fields. Now, Joseph’s son, of David’s descent, was lying in a feeding trough among livestock.

God wanted Jesus to be born in David’s town and among livestock, David’s profession. He prompted Caesar Augustus to make a decree demanding everyone to return to their hometown for a census. Joseph and Mariam obeyed and went to Bethlehem, David’s town, where Jesus was born. That was perfect timing!

We don’t always see the reasons for everything that happens to us. God, however, sees and plans events far advanced. So, we rely on his wisdom when things go differently than anticipated.