Journey to Bethlehem

I'm totally getting out of order here but if only one family sees this and makes the time to go see Journey to Bethlehem, then it's worth getting out of order... besides, no one knows but me anyway.  :)


Last night Chris and I took the kids to what will be a yearly trip to Bethlehem.  Oh, how I wish we were really able to go to Israel each year but we got a little taste of it last night!  Every year a local church practices, rehearses, sacrifices to put on a free... YES, I SAID FREE... event to remind us of the real reason for Christmas.  Well, no one actually told me that that is the reason but it seems pretty obvious. 

When you arrive, you will receive a ticket with your new Jewish name on it.  I was Hannah.  Madeline was Eve,  Chris and Gavin were both John.  On the paper was the meaning of your name and your family lineage.  We were all of the line of King David.  

We were taken to an auditorium where an enactment of Mary and Joseph preparing for their trip to Bethlehem was shown along with some other short but sweet dramas and some Christmas singing.  From there we began our journey by meeting Bartholomew, our "family member" and guide for the journey. 

Bartholomew led us down the Roman streets where we encountered several cranky Roman soldiers.  Now, I say "cranky" because they were fabulously in character.  It was so funny to see the kids faces when they heard those stern voices asking for their papers and what their names were.  We also encountered several other "Jewish" families who had just left Bethlehem.  


Each family was kind to share the warmth of their fire and a little bit of Jewish history with us.  

 

There were some wise men who had journeyed far from their homeland and they told us of the star that they had followed. 

Everywhere we went... Everyone we met with spoke of their hope in the coming Messiah... No one had much in the way of possessions... well, except the wise men... but they all held on to this same hope that their God would send a savior... If you let yourself, you could literally feel the hope rising inside of you too!

While we were speaking with some very common shepherds the most amazing thing happened... from out of no where an angel appeared and told us the messiah had been born.  Then there was a host of them singing praises to God. 

It seems so strange because I've heard this countless times in my life but for the first time I wept and FELT just a little of how those shepherds must have felt. hope had been fulfilled and who were we to hear it?

After hearing the amazing news from the shepherds we ran all the way to Bethlehem where we encountered more cranky Roman soldiers.  One little girl, about three years old, showed that she is bold in spirit when she told them "YOU'RE MEAN!"  We all laughed but the soldiers didn't break character for a moment.  Our papers were stamped and we were able to go into the market at Bethlehem.  There were people selling chickens, fish, bread and a host of things.  We danced and celebrated before we went to find a place to stay for the night.  Even in this Bethlehem, there was no room in any inn.  

Finally, the innkeepers told us of a young couple that they had allowed to sleep in their stable... the young woman great with child... and Bartholomew asked the hopeful question "Could that be the Messiah that the angel told us about?"  and we were serenaded as we walked into the stable to see our King.  

He was tiny and fragile.  His parents looked deeply into his face.  While he looked incredibly ordinary... wrapped in a simple blanket, we were reminded that...

 

this baby would grow up to die for each one of us...  

so that we can have a relationship with God in Heaven.   

If you have to move, rearrange, or even skip something else, I absolutely recommend you taking the 
Journey to Bethlehem.