Joseph and Mary Going to be Taxed - Luke 2:5

Luke the physician wrote how, “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:)”, and in chapter two and verse five of his book Luke shares how Joseph went to Bethlehem,“with Mary his espoused wife” where we read:

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

The verse reads, “To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, ...” Luke began with the words, “to be taxed” or “to be enrolled and enlisted for taxation” “with Mary” which means “alongside Mary whose name means their rebellion and was the mother of Jesus” “his espoused wife” or “Joseph's promised, betrothed and engaged female spouse”. Luke shared how Joseph went to “Bethlehem” with Mary who was his “wife”.

The verse goes on to say, “being great with child.” Luke added the words, “being” which means “existing and present as one who was” “great with child” or “swollen with pregnancy”. Luke shared how Mary was well along with her “pregnancy” as she and Joseph traveled to “Bethlehem”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn that Joseph traveled with his “greatly pregnant” “wife” named “Mary”. Though this time of transport must have been difficult for Mary who was expecting her child to be born soon, God was at hand and His timing for all these things was as well. God loves people, and His purpose for all the events surrounding the birth of His Messiah Son Jesus to be born was intentional. People who put their faith and trust in Jesus shall be “saved” from their sins and receive “everlasting life” with God. “Mary” traveling with Joseph in this “delicate condition” provided the exact timing of the birth of the Messiah, and those who consider these things should respond by yielding their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how, “the days were accomplished that she should be delivered”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".