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 have three children who now have children of their own.
I cannot imagine any of them being born in a barn, laid in a manger, and
surrounded by clucking chickens, mooing cows and braying donkeys. Yet God chose
that scenario through which to deliver the King of all Creation.
Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph found no room in the inn.
Offered the stable instead, they settled in for the night. Lest we forget, God
already knew that.
I can imagine the celebration going on inside the inn as the innkeeper hung the
no vacancy sign over
the door. A full house provided a good night’s income and he must have jumped
for joy at the sound of the coins dancing together as he dropped them in his
coin box. I can picture a room filled with men laughing, drinking, and telling
the tales of their journeys from afar. Yet no tale that they were telling would
ever match the one unfolding right under their noses.
Soon the cries of a newborn baby boy would fill the air. Perhaps they heard
something as He announced His arrival to the world while Mary swaddled Him
tightly. Perhaps they even raised their goblets of wine in jest to toast this
child born in the stable. Perhaps they heard nothing, saw nothing, and knew
nothing.
I wonder how many times you and I, like those in the inn that night in
Bethlehem, miss Him. How often does Jesus whisper I’m here or follow me but we
hear nothing, see nothing and know nothing.
Today we have history to remind us, the Bible to instruct us, and the Holy
Spirit to indwell us. We know Jesus is Lord of all and King of all Creation. He
calls us to live so that others may also know as we share the good news of this
baby born in Bethlehem. Remember, we are without excuse, we are unlike those in
the inn, for little did they know He was the King.
©
Joyce Powell
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