And
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 NIV
My husband and I recently took a six-week
road trip. We drove through fourteen states on our route to visit with family
and friends—some of whom we had not seen in decades. While I was not riding a
donkey, there were evenings when a “No Vacancy” sign was the last thing that I
wanted to see. I did not want to be invited to sleep in the barn. I wanted a
hot shower and a soft clean bed.
My mind cannot fathom the physical and
emotional distress that Mary must have been experiencing as she and Joseph
reached Bethlehem and found a “No Vacancy” greeting just in time for the birth
of Jesus. Could she have expected at least a warm clean bed in which to birth
the Savior of the World? Among the ponderings of her heart, could she have
expected the number of times and places where Jesus would be rejected—a “No
Vacancy” sign hanging on the hearts of those He encountered.
I wonder if she pondered through the millennia
to the places of rejection—homes, battlefields and even churches. I ask myself
how much she knew about the coming years of her son. What did she know about
His ministry and His death? What did she feel on resurrection morning? Could
her human mind actually comprehend the events of her life and the life of her
son?
While we can only speculate on how much
Mary knew and what she felt, there is one thing that we know for sure: “And
Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy
word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38 KJV) Mary gave a resounding
yes answer when asked to let Jesus come into her life, and that answer’s impact
on the world reaches through eternity.
The innkeeper said no, Judas said no, Pilot
said no, and down through the centuries thousands upon thousands have continued
to say no—I will not let Him in. But today there is only one question. During
this season when we celebrate the birth of the Savior, the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords, will you let Him in?
©
Joyce Powell
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