Luke 2:1-7 "No Room"

Introduction:

Luke 2:1-7 is a familiar text of Scripture when it comes to our Christmas celebrations.

What I want to focus in this evening is the characters involved in these historical events for the purpose of seeing God’s plan coming to pass on that original Christmas.

First there is Cesar Augustus in verses 1-3:

I. Cesar Augustus (1-3).

History outside of the Bible bears witness of the existence of Cesar Augustus. We even have record of Quirinius being Governor as early as 6 BC.

It was Cesar Augustus through whom the decree was issued. Cesar Augustus was the ruler of the Roman Empire.

But Cesar was clueless about his role in causing Joseph and Mary to journey to Bethlehem in order to fulfill OT prophecy of Messiah being born in Bethlehem.

So we have Cesar Augustus making a decree that required Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem.

Second we see the Parents, Joseph and Mary. Look at verses 4-7:

II. Joseph and Mary (4-7).

Mary had been told that she had conceived by the Holy Spirit.

She had been betrothed to Joseph, who began to have second thoughts after hearing the news that his wife to be was already pregnant.

Joseph was also visited by an angel who confirmed to him that Mary’s story was indeed true.

We are told in verses 4-5 that the couple traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a distance of about 80 miles.

Once they arrived Mary soon went into labor and the only place they could find to stay was a stable.

The Scripture tells us that Christ was her firstborn. I remember our firstborn. We had all the comforts of a modern day hospital and I am forever glad.

But none of that was there for Mary on that original Christmas. She didn’t even have convenient accommodations, not even a hotel room. She had a stable.

Imagine that, the Lord of glory was born in a barn. Ever wonder why no one was willing to make room in that Inn for a pregnant woman about to give birth?

Story is told of a children’s Christmas play taking place in a local church where Joseph and Mary knock on the door of the Inn-Keeper.

The little boy playing the Inn-Keeper hear of their situation and he can’t bear to turn them away. He declares, “Wait! You can have my room Mary and Joseph!”

That nearly ruined the whole show.

They got a stable instead. That’s all the world had to offer because there was no room for Christ in the world.

But that was just the beginning, the world has never sought to embrace Christ on it’s own.

John 1:11 tells us that, He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

John 3:19 says that, And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Shortly after His birth Matthew 2 tells us that Herod wanted Him dead

Jesus eventually went public with His ministry and the political and religious authorities had no room for Him either and they plan His murder.

He is arrested, tried and nailed to a Roman Cross to die. By all accounts from a human perspective Jesus appears to be a colossal failure. And He would be except for the third character. The third character was the eternal God who has established all of these events in the history of redemption.

III. The Eternal God

God had His decree to and it was an eternal one and He ordained all of these events in the historical record.

His prophets foretold it just as it came to pass.

But the prophets also foretold that this child to be born was born to die.

Yes, God gave the gift knowing full well it would be rejected by men.

But God affirmed Him over and over again in His earthly ministry and finally in raising Him from the dead.

When we look at the divine intent behind the life and ministry of Christ it is really hard to separate the stable from the cross of Jesus Christ.

Simply because all of the excitement and the miraculous encounters with angels and the essence of their praise is all tied to what this Messiah would come into the world to do.

This is why the idea of “No Room” doesn’t necessarily translate into “No Hope” because hope is rooted no just in His coming in that original Christmas but it is rooted in why He came in the first place.

He is the original Christmas gift but He was not wrapped in pretty paper and place under a tree. No, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

Conclusion:

Nothing that you will receive tomorrow will be of more value and of more benefit than the gift that God has already gave.

Do you have any room for Christ? Is there any room in your heart for the Son of God?

Nothing is more critical than to come to embracing all that God intends Christ to be in your life.

If you don’t know Him you need to. May the true meaning of Christmas rest in all of our hearts.

Let’s Pray!