Mary’s Lullaby
Hidden in my womb so deep
Safe beneath my heart,
Be still, Little One, for very soon
Your life from me will part.
Who will you be
O Son of mine
Is it true what the angels say?
I care not, as long as soon
In my arms, You safely lay.
The valley of the Jordan River borders the land of Samaria to the west and the Decapolis to the east. Running fifty or so miles due south to the Dead Sea, it was the most common travel route to Jerusalem and beyond for the Jews who lived in the beautiful area of Galilee. The more direct route to Bethlehem would take the young couple through Samaria, but no Jew would dare cross over the border of their vowed enemy. Crossing over the Jordan near Scythopolis, Joseph and Mary turned south, following the Jordan River for many miles.
Only speculation would allow us a glimpse of life on the road. But consider these things.
• The road was also used by the occupying army of the Roman Empire, whose cruelty and harshness was a constant threat to all Jews.
• This was possibly the first time that Mary had ever ventured this far outside the familiar surroundings of her home in Nazareth without her parents.
• All of their food, clothing, and supplies would have to be carried with them, severely limiting the amount and quantity they would have.
• They would have to cross several rivers before reaching their turning off point northeast of Jericho.
Mary was only days away from delivering her first child. During this trip she would be subject to the added discomfort that naturally occurs before childbirth—swelling in her feet, hands, and legs, added back pain, shortness of breath. She experienced all of this while either walking or sitting on a donkey for four to six hours a day. Remember—Mary was a girl, who in today’s world, would not be old enough to even drive a car.
One can only imagine the physical strain and punishment that Mary was experiencing. Think also of the emotional strain that was on young Joseph. Probably in his early twenties, he was responsible not only for his young bride but for the baby she was carrying that he had not fathered. All they knew was what the angels had told them. Unlike us, they did not have the storyline written out for them.
They had no idea that the week before Mary would have her child they would be traveling the 80 miles on foot to a city where they knew no one, had no lodging prepared, and no work to provide daily food and shelter. Without exaggeration, it was the worst possible circumstance that any young couple could find themselves in.
Little did they know that God considered it "the fullness of time."
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