For them no room at the inn Week 51, 2014

I used to think it was the journey that caught up with Mary and Joseph at the birth of Jesus. Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family Lk 2:4(CEV). I thought that she went into labour on the road to Bethlehem. A long stressful journey suddenly embarked upon by a pregnant woman near term who enters into labour whilst on the journey to Bethlehem and so they looked for an available inn: that is how the manger birthplace was rationalised. No. They had been in Bethlehem a while before she went into labour: and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby Lk 2:6(GNB).

I took it that no rooms were available at all in the inn when the saviour was to be born. That with the journeying made by so many on account of the census, the inns which are stop over motels on routes (Gen42:27; Ex4:24) were so filled with travelers. That is until the phrase caught my attention --there was no room for them to stay in the inn Lk 2:6(GNB). The scripture didn’t say there was no room for anyone at the inn. No. The account was not “there was no more room at the inn”. It says: and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters Lk 2:7(ISV) .The saviour was rejected at birth by the world. He came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him Jn 1:11(ISV).

And so today the manger and farm animals symbolise the coming of Christ into the world; what a missed opportunity by the inn-keeper! The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him Jn 1:10(GNB).  Had he known who it is that was coming into the world would he not have vacated his own room happily for this poor yet- to- wed woman to have her child? Yes: Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem Lk 2:5(CEV).  The marriage was consummated after the birth of Jesus.

Now before we condemn the inn-keeper, have we room for other things but for Jesus? Not the saviour in pomp and pageantry the world likes but the rejected, the stigmatised Jesus. Are we only willing to associate with respectability in society? Do we refuse to open up to Him when it means shame and disgrace and financial loss? When no one will pick up the bills? Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming Heb 13:13, 14(ISV). Please do not miss your own opportunity: he waits to be born in you.

Jn1:12(GNB)  Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. They did not become God's children by natural means…God himself was their Father.