In review of Luke 2:7 it says, “She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them”
Bottom Line:
Jesus arrived while his parents were traveling. He was placed in a bed of hay, because no lodging was available for them.
What this means to me:
My savior and leader was born while his parents traveled. And because there was no lodging available for him, he was laid in a bed of hay.
No holiday in our calendars gets as much advertising time as Christmas. As early as Halloween, it is apparent on television, in websites, or in my e-mail. I experience beautifully decorated trees and scenery everywhere I turn. There’s even lots of chubby older guys with white beards in red and white suits. No doubt, Christmas is a cultural phenomenon.
However, with all of this, it’s easy to miss the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Which is the very point of Christmas.
That dilemma isn’t just a product of our time. Even people who were alive during that very first Christmas, just right around the corner from Jesus himself, missed the point of Christmas. And they missed it for the very same reasons I can today.
Take the innkeeper or manager of the lodging.
Within the narrative during the last week of her pregnancy, Mary and Joseph go to their hometown of Bethlehem. They live in a city called Nazareth and Luke tells us of their need to be involved in a census with the Roman government.
As they get to Bethlehem, Mary goes into labor. She’s ready to deliver. And Joseph tries to check her into some form of local lodging (today’s equivalent of a Holiday Inn). The manager of the lodging comes out and says, “Sorry, no vacancies. There’s no room.”
Luke 2:7 tells it like this: “[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (NIV).
If I look at this from innkeeper or lodging managers perspective, business is booming. If he has no more room in his accommodations, that’s good. If you own a motel, you’d want it to be sold out. A lot of out-of-town guests have come back to town for the census. They’re looking for a place to stay. And he’s all booked up. The innkeeper/lodging manager has no use for this little baby or this pregnant woman. Little does he know who he is snubbing.
The Son of God could have been born in his place. Imagine the public relations power of that! You could put up a sign: “Son of God born here!” You’d be sold out in your inn for the rest of your life.
God was coming to Earth in human form. The innkeeper/lodging manager could have been a part of it. But instead he missed the greatest opportunity imaginable because he was busy. He missed it because business was booming.
So this begs the question of me and my own life. Am I too busy with my work to make room for Jesus this Christmas? Is my schedule, my plans, or my budget too tight to let Jesus in this Christmas?
Just like that innkeeper/lodging manager, I could be missing out on the biggest opportunity of my life this Christmas. God is right here. He wants to be a part of my life. God coming into the lives of ordinary people like me and is the real point of Christmas.
Getting to know God is the opportunity of a lifetime. I should not miss it!
Today, I will consider what things I can take out of my schedule this Christmas season so that I can more fully experience what God wants for me?
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