90 Miles

Ever sit for a moment and think about what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus? Not just to travel with Him on that long, winding ninety mile road to Bethlehem, but to actually live with the Son of God under their roof? Advent invites us into that wonder. It invites us to pause in the middle of our hurried December pace and sit beside this young couple who found themselves on a journey they never expected — and yet one God had planned since before time began.

Mary’s journey began with an angel’s greeting that shook her world. Joseph’s began with a dream that cleared his confusion. Both of them had their lives redirected by the hand of God, and even though it must have felt overwhelming, they stepped forward in obedience. The road wasn’t easy — especially that rugged climb from Nazareth to Bethlehem — but they kept going because they trusted the One who had called them. That same God still guides us today, even when our path feels steep or uncertain.

I sometimes wonder what the conversations were like as they walked. Did Mary rub her back and try to laugh through the discomfort? Did Joseph scan the hills, making sure they were safe? And when they finally arrived in Bethlehem, weary from travel and full of expectation, they still found no room except for a manger. Yet in that humble place, heaven touched earth. Jesus, eternal and divine, entered the world not with applause but with obscurity. What a mystery — and what a message for us who often crave comfort and clarity before we trust God’s plan.

But it wasn’t just Mary and Joseph’s journey we reflect on. It was Jesus’ journey too — a journey far longer and far more sacrificial. Long before Bethlehem, He existed in the glory of heaven. As Paul wrote, He “emptied himself” and took on flesh. He walked roads of dust, entered our pain, experienced hunger, fatigue, loneliness, and joy. He journeyed all the way to the cross because abundant life for us required that depth of love from Him. Every step He took was for our salvation.

And sometimes, I wonder about the everyday moments Mary witnessed — the ones Scripture doesn’t record but a mother never forgets. Max Lucado captures this curiosity beautifully with a series of questions that make you think: What was it like watching Him pray? Did you ever feel awkward teaching Him how He created the world? Did you ever think, “That’s God eating my soup?” Those questions tug at the edges of holy imagination and remind us that the incarnation wasn’t just theological — it was intensely relational.

Imagine Mary trying to steady His small hands as He learned to walk. Imagine her hearing Him laugh for the first time. Did He ever wake up afraid? Did He have any friends named Judas? When someone referred to Satan, how did He act?These aren’t idle curiosities — they’re reminders that Jesus didn’t skip childhood. He entered humanity fully, not partially. Every scraped knee, every late night conversation, every synagogue service, every moment of growing and learning — He lived all of it so He could be our perfect Savior who understands what it means to be human.

What might it have been like the first time Jesus saw a lamb led to the slaughter? Or the first time He stood at a funeral beside grieving neighbors? Did He act differently? Did Mary ever catch Him looking at His own flesh while holding a clod of dirt? Even as a child, the shadow of the cross wasn’t far from Him. And yet, He loved deeply, lived joyfully, and embraced the journey the Father set before Him.

The more we think about these things, the more we realize that the journey to Bethlehem wasn’t an isolated moment — it was the opening chapter of the greatest story ever told. Jesus traveled roads we could never walk so that He could walk with us in ours. Whether your journey right now is smooth or rocky, joyful or confusing, know this: the God who became flesh understands every step you take.

So as you move through this Advent season, pause and remember the journeys — Mary and Joseph’s obedience, Jesus’ humility, and the path God invites you to walk with Him. The destination is worth it. And just like that young couple on the road to Bethlehem, you may not know how it will all unfold, but you can trust the One who guides your steps.