The Simplicity of God's Salvation and the Message of Christmas (End)

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7NKJV)

When Mary and Joseph arrived at the tiny village of Bethlehem, approximately 6 miles south of Jerusalem, they couldn’t find a place to stay overnight. Some Bible translations call it an ‘inn’ but it probably wasn’t a typical hotel. John Wesley comments, “Perhaps it might rather be translated in the stall. They were lodged in the ox stall, fitted up on occasion of the great concourse, for poor guests.” For poor guests, he writes, how pity it was. Other Bible experts guess that the place where Joseph’s family stayed was a guest room in a private home, or perhaps a caravansary. 

Stephen M. Miller in The Jesus of the Bible further suggests, “Joseph and Mary ended up spending the night in a shelter for livestock. Christian writers in the AD 100s said the shelter was a cave. The hills around Bethlehem are laced with caves where animals take shelter in bad weather. Some poor people today still make their homes in these caves.”

It was cold night, tummy hurt, long journey, tired, weary, and worn… lodged in the ox stall… for poor guests… a guest room… a caravansary… shelter for livestock… a cave… where animals take shelter… home for poor people… wherever it was. The King of Kings and the Savior of the World, the Anointed One, the Son of God, the Creator was born ‘in a manger’. With that knowledge in mind, Christians ought to be humble and in owe by the simplicity of God’s Salvation. He comes to be the Savior even to the poorest of the poor. We, sinners are among ‘the poor’, ya know.
Simplicity of God’s Salvation, that’s the message of Christmas!

The words, ‘there was no room for them in the inn’ sparked my imagination on the couple’s situations. It must be stressful for them, especially for Joseph, when they arrived in Bethlehem and found no rooms available. I can almost hear Joseph knocking every proper warm-hostel doors desperately, pleading with the manager of the inn for a place where Mary could give birth to her child. Knock! Knock! Knock! “No vacancy! Go away!”; “Get out!”; “I’m sorry… no room”… Could it be in the midst of merry Christmas, blast sound, colorful dresses, party gathering, firecrackers and pile of beers, you had keep Christ out of your lives? NO ROOM for Jesus? NO VACANCY on the door post of your heart? 

Hey, have you any room for Jesus? I hope you have one especially for Him. I hope as Christmas is closer, you may open your heart to receive Him in your life. I hope you’re ready, even now…
yes, ready a ‘room’ for Jesus, that’s the message of Christmas!

“I’m Sorry, I Have No Room”
by Ann Farrell Blunt

The star seemed to shine that first Christmas night

as they never have shone before,

and as Jesus came into the world for us,

they seemed to shine even more.

Shepherds strayed to the manger scene,

worshiping as they came.

Three wise men were led from the Orient far,

searching to do the same.

It wasn’t exactly the place for a King;

why, it wasn’t even the inn!

No, out on a barn, in manger poor,

He was born, to take away sin.

The innkeeper had no room that night;

I wonder, how about you?

If Jesus asked for a place in your heart,

what do you think you would do?

For you know some day when life has passed

and you stand at the door of the inn,

The Lord may look at you sadly there

and you’ll hear these words from Him:

“I have no room, I’m sorry, my friend;

I’m truly sorry to say.

“I have no room,” He’ll tell you once more,

then turn and send you away.

THINK BIG The simplicity of God’s Salvation – He come for  ‘poor’ sinners like you and me. START SMALL Get ready a ‘room’ for Jesus in your heart. GO DEEP God is a loving God; He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from the punishment of sins. But God is also a Righteous God; He will/must punish sinners for their act of rebellious and unbelief.
That could be us... if not for the Blood Shed on the Cross.
So, is there room in your life for Christ? Your “I have no room” maybe the exact words Jesus will use as you stand at the ‘door of the inn’ after your life had passed.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Eternal Life or Eternal Damnation?  Your call…

I think that’s the crucial message of Christmas!

With Love,

Richard

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.