No Room!

“She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7).

Luke changes the scene quickly and radically in his Advent story moving us from the promised birth of the John the Baptist the forrunner f the “Holy child” Jesus to a Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, (31BC-14AD). Formelry known as Gaius Octavious he reigned 44 years, died aged 76. A long and splendid reign.

“Augustus” meaning “exalted” a title given to him by the Senate in 27BC - seeking taxes.

This Caesar had replaced the republican form of government with an imperial administration embracing the entire Mediterranean world, had established the Roman peace (Pax Romana), and had brought in a golden age in Roman architecture and literature.

The census was used by Rome for both military and revenue purposes and was therefore mandatory: “All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census” (2:3).

Though the Jews were exempt from military service, they were still required to register for purposes of taxation. In the case of the holy family, this procedure involved a three- or four-day journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the ancestral home of Joseph (2:4; cf. 1:27), located about five miles south of Jerusalem in Judea. The fact that Mary was in the last stages of pregnancy would make this trip particularly arduous and uncomfortable for her.

The accommodation facilities of little Bethlehem were stretched to the limit by the demands imposed by the Roman census (Luke 2:1–5).

Note no Innkeeper and no Inn in the modern sense of the word but rather an upper room (Grk:kataluma Lk 22:11; Mk 14:14)in a house, set aside for guests.

Indeed the “stable” would likely have been a cave - A tradition going back to Justin says it occurred in a cave (Dialogue with Trypho 78) - animals were kept. A stable is never mentioend but the “manger” tends to influence our thinking here! Although it is possible that the birth took place in a very poor home where the animals shared the same roof as the family.

The idea that Jesus was born in a stable because the Travellodge was full of paying guests is busted!

The birth narrative is brief and undramatic.

Mary gives birth to her firstborn and she wraps “the child herself points to a lonely birth” (Morris 1974:83).

And he was born in a lowly condition emphasizing the words of Paul: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”(2 Cor 8:9).

Thus, the Son of God entered this world in a most unpretentious way.

This is theologically appropriate: “All the poor, insignificant, forgotten people of the world can gather around the manger and dare to believe that the Babe who lies there really belongs to them” (1970:29)

Jesus is a Saviour born for all people, at all time, reagardless of status. The presence of the shepherds in Luke’s nativity account is noteworthy (2:8, 15). They were considered dishonest (b. Sanhedrin 25b) and were viewed as “unclean according to the standards of the law. They represent the outcasts and sinners for whom Jesus came [Luke 19:10]. Such outcasts were the first recipients of the good news” (Stein 1992:108).

However the passage is so important at both a literal and a metaphorical level.

1. NO ROOM FOR JESUS ON THAT CHRISTMAS DAY!

Joseph who had barely introduced in the Gospel (see Lk 1:27), now enters centre stage.

Taxation followed his lineage, so he obediently traveled the 90 miles to Bethlehem, David’s home, where the Scriptures said Messiah would be born (Mic. 5:2). - “But you Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little to be among the thousands of Judah, Out of you shall One come forth unto me, who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Do you see the hand of God in all of this! He is moving th hands of history. Think of all the times in history that Israel was threated by external forces; superpowers that threated its very existence and teh survival of the mesianic line and here now, God is bring his promise through Micah into being!

“A Roman, he cared nothing for the Hebrews. A pagan, he knew nothing of Messianic prophecies. His issuing a decree of enrolment was nothing unnatural or extraordinary; it was one of the commonest acts of a political ruler, and he himself was one of the most methodical of men. Yet who can doubt that Cæsar Augustus, in issuing this decree, was accomplishing a predetermined purpose of the Ancient of Days?" (Joseph S Exell)

On arrival however, it was busy - there was no room for Jesus - if only they had known who he was! - John 10:10-11: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”

Caesar Augustus sought to reorganize the financial policies and procedures of the empire.

This was a big deal politically but it wasn’t the most important event taking palce in the Empire that day!

The trouble is the political authorities and sadly even the religious authorities did not get it!

Jesus, Immanuel; the Son of God was born into the world and the vast majority of people in the world missed it!

“Room for merchants, travellers, tax-collectors and sightseers, but no room for the gentle Mary and the Divine Christ. An event which stirred Heaven and shook Hell, caused loittle excitement in a world which was drugged with selfishness and number by greed. The Roman horders were certainly not interested in an Advent of a tiny babe born in a humble manger. The Priests wre too preccoupied wiht their ministrations and theologies to see in Himthe fulfilment of all that God has promised through the centuries. The mercenary merchant who was too busy plying His wares driving hard, profitable bargains to turn aside and see HIm who was the hope of the world. What a picture of the inhispitality of the human heart. No room for the Son of God.”(Billy Graham).

2. NO ROOM FOR JESUS ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY?

Metaphorically - “no room” refelcts hearts and minds that are closed to Him.

“The innkeeper was not hostile; he was not opposed to them, but his inn was crowded; his hands were full; his mind was preoccupied. This is the answer that millions are giving today. Like a Bethlehem innkeeper, they cannot find room for Christ. All the accommodations in their hearts are already taken up by other crowding interests. Their response is not atheism. It is not defiance. It is preoccupation and the feeling of being able to get on reasonably well without Christianity.” (Billy Graham)

THE MIRACLE DREAMS By Susie M. Best

That night when in Judean skies the mystic star dispensed its light, a blind man moved in his sleep- and dreamed that he had sight.

That night when shepherds heard the song of hosts angelic choiring near, a deaf man stirred in slumber’s spell- and dreamed that he could hear.

That night when in the cattle stall slept child and mother cheek by jowl, a cripple turned his twisted limbs- and dreamed that he was whole.

That night when o’er the newborn babe the tender Mary rose to lean, a loathsome leper smiled in sleep- and dreamed that he was clean.

That night when to a mother’s breast the little King was held secure, a harlot slept in happy sleep- and dreamed that she was pure.

That night when in the manger lay the sanctified who came to save a man moved in the sleep of death- and dreamed there was no grave.

A man moved in the sleep of death- and dreamed there was no grave!

How we fool ourselves! - “dreamed there was no grave!” - as if....

But here is the good news: “God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son that whoever beleivers in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.

“Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth;

Born to give them second birth.

Hark the Herald Angels Sin.

Glory to the new born King!?

We did not choose to be with God, God chose to be with us! Emmanuel, God with us!

And now he invites us to enter in! And he still wants to find a home among us - Revelation 3:20 “Behold I stand at the door and knock...”

You’re the innkeeper now! You decide what you are going to do with this Christ-child! Whether you will find room for Him in your heart!

what’s your response? Listen to these words from Casting Crown’s “Is ther Room in your heart?”

Family hiding from the storm Found no place at the keeper's door It was for this a Child was born To save a world so cold and hollow

The sleeping town did not know That lying in a manger low A Savior King who had no home Has come to heal our sorrows

Is there room in your heart? Is there room in your heart? Is there room in your heart For God to write His story?

Shepherds counting sheep at night Do not fear the glory light You are precious in His sight God has come to raise the lowly

For God to write His story? You can come as you are But it may set you apart When you make room in your heart And trade your dreams for His glory

Make room in your heart Make room in your heart Mother holds the Promise tight Every wrong will be made right

The road is straight and the burden's light For in His hands, He holds tomorrow

Is there room in your heart? Is there room in your heart? Is there room in your heart For God to write His story?

You can come as you are But it may set you apart When you make room in your heart And trade your dreams for His glory

Make room in your heart Make room in your heart Make room in your heart Make room in your heart