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The Real Bethlehem by Steve Ray
The donkey tried to bite me as I climbed on his back. Flies were buzzing incessantly around my head and my clothes were drenched with perspiration.
The smelly donkey belonged to a young Palestinian boy in the Jordan Valley, the lowest place on the face of the earth. An ancient document says that Mary rode such a boney-backed creature from Nazareth to Bethlehem which was over 90 miles as a crow flies.
Trying to better understand Mary and the life she lived in Israel 2,000 years ago, I was exploring her land, reliving some of her experiences and making a documentary to share it with the world. My wife and I feel like we know Mary, the real girl, because of the many times we have visited her land and walked in her footprints.
The word Bethlehem is made up of two Hebrew words meaning “house of bread.” Mary was on a journey to Bethlehem while nine months pregnant. In her womb she was carrying the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
Click to see my video bike ride through Bethlehem
Isn’t it interesting that Mary was going to the House of Bread to deliver the bread. And when Jesus was born, where did his mother place him? In a manger! The first thing Mary did was place her newborn baby in a food dish for sheep. Was she implying that some day her Son would become our food?
To see the content rich and colorful Newsletter with stories, news, a free gift, upcoming trips and speaking events and riddles, click here.
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