I’ve been looking into “prefiguring” in the Bible. 

Isaac as Jesus because the son was sacrificed and carried his own wood.

Joseph as Jesus because he was betrayed for silver, and the cupbearer and baker were prefigures of communion and the two thieves on the cross. Cupbearer forgot him. Jesus told the thief he wouldn’t forget him. 

Jonah as Jesus three days and three nights in the fish. 

Etc. 

The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of Christ prefigures our journey prior to our being born again. 

There was two possible routes for the Joseph and Mary. The trade route (through Samaria) or the Jordan river route (along the river). The trade route was all rocky terrain and the Jews wanted to avoid Samaria. Likely they took Jordan river route. However Jordan river route requires you to go from Jericho to Jerusalem. 18 miles and 3500 ft of ascension. Extremely difficult and dangerous. This would mean Mary and Joseph took the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. Same way as the Good Samaritan. The man who went down was going Jerusalem to Jericho so we can assume the “savior” was going from Jericho to Jerusalem. The Good Samaritan saved the man, healed his wounds, paid his stay as long as he needed “for eternity”, and was a foreigner just like Christ was a foreigner to earth. 

Just some interesting thoughts I was having this morning.

– Manley Miller