As we celebrate Christmas Eve, imagine the day before Jesus’ birth. Joseph had been leading a donkey for likely five days as he and Mary made the 90-mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
All so that Rome could tax him more money. The final insult to this long trip had to be when these travelers found no place to stay.
Yet, whatever despair Joseph experienced had to have been overcome when Jesus was born.
In Luke 2, we read, “When the (shepherds) had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.”
When the shepherds praised and affirmed Jesus as the Messiah, their words likely encouraged Joseph.
Sometimes we work really hard to endure the lows in order to fully appreciate the highs.
