Mary didn't ride a donkey to Bethlehem In the scriptures of Mathew and Luke, no where does it say that Mary had a donkey to carry her to Bethlehem. There is just no mention of a donkey, a cart or anything. So although, we have seen numerous images of Mary riding a donkey in Christmas scenes, it just may not be true. Besides does a pregnant mother in her ninth month just about to give birth ride on a small donkey. For wouldn't the bouncing and rough ride be just too hard on the mother and even induce labour. Sure Bethlehem is only 4-6 days walking days from Nazareth where Mary and Joseph lived, but if they had to go to Bethlehem in the middle of winter, maybe Mary was forced to walk the whole distance. They weren't rich as they had no servants and no handmaidens are mentioned, so mayeb also they just didn't have the money for a donkey to carry either Mary or their possessions. Maybe Joseph had to backpack their meager necessities himself. ... a rather different Christmas image than we are used to. For notice that the Messianic verses about donkeys and asses deals with Jesus at the age of 30 when entering into the City of Jerusalem when he was prophesied to be riding on an ass... but there are no Messianic verses about a virgin riding a donkey or ass. Zechariah 9: 9 ¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And so maybe Mary, Jesus' mother had to WALK all the way to Bethlehem even when in her ninth month. Think of her bravery in believeing that her baby, straight from the Lord would be all right despite the difficulties, despite the time of year, despite the distance, and despite their poverty. yet many have tried to deny they were poor, suggesting that Joseph was a artisan rather thasn a poor carpenter. But this theory of theirs just doesn't make sense, for would a well to do young parents, put their new born in a manger, used only for animals. I think not. Would they even stay in animal enclosure if they had suffiecient funds to make room for them in the INN or a private home... NO they were poor and so stayed with the animals, for at least it was out of the elements and a type of shelter. But the choice of how you picture much of the Christmas story is up to you, as it doesn't exactly say in the Bible. Yet we do know that it doesn't write that MARY had a DONKEY for her transportation, that seems to be just part of some myth, that has been idolized. Yet the truth might be so much more inspiring if Mary actually did walk all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem and have the baby JESUS without help and without assistance except from Joseph. Mary never balked at what the Lord had for her. She never complained, she just accepted. Luke 1: 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Think of her courage, her bravery, her stamina and her FAITH. No wonder the Lord choose this young teenage girl to be theVIRGIN vessel of the King of Kings. No wonder the Lord choose her, for He knew her heart and that despite hardships and even walking to Bethlehem, she would go on. Merry Christmas ALL David and Trixie Back to Homepage Christmas Story |