by Steven Gledhill for FREEdom from MEdom Project
What does it really mean that there was no room at the inn for the one that would be born to redeem mankind?
The Bible tells us that from the beginning of all things the purpose of Jesus coming into the world was to die as the sacrifice for sin. God did not create us to sin, but made us to choose what we want for our lives, knowing it presents a problem. The problem is that we are not God, so we can be influenced by outside forces when it comes to choices.
When our ability to choose is flawed by free will, we are vulnerable to giving in to desire that may be misintended. Because we are not God, we can choose wisely or foolishly, and therefore, according to suspect feelings driving our choices, choose foolishly. Early on in human history, foolish choices became harmful, both to ourselves and others. Selfish desire and decision led to lying, cheating and stealing. Ambition, jealousy, resentment and hatred ensued. And as our selfishness grew into something bigger than we could have imagined, it even led to murder as an outcome.
We are so full of ourselves and what we believe we want and deserve that there is no room left for much else. For certain, we don’t want someone coming in and invading our way of doing what we do. There’s no room for that.
The Meeting at The Inn
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 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 2:4-7 (NKJV)
The Bible tells us that Joseph and Mary, nine months pregnant, arrived in Bethlehem looking for a place to land after their 80-mile journey from Nazareth by mule and foot. The assumption is that they arrived at the inn and were informed by someone that there was no room for them there. It is clear that Mary is very pregnant and about to burst but she and Joseph are told that they can take residence in the stable, where they would at least have a roof over their heads. We read in the Bible that Jesus is born in a manger, a kind of feeding trough for the animals of the house.
This story has been repeated again and again and it warrants deeper study into what it all means. What about the line, “because there was no room for them in the inn”? Was “the inn” a little roadside motel, or some kind of lodging for travelers?
Well, anyone can google the subject of “the inn” and find that the original Greek word for “inn” is kataluma, which actually means “guest room.” It is thought from this context that Joseph brought his wife to Bethlehem with a viable plan that included somewhere trustworthy to stay; which could have been with family; perhaps cousins of Joseph that were living in Bethlehem. Or perhaps at the very least, these were people that Joseph was told takes in travelers for a few nights. Kind of like a bed and breakfast thing.
So, Mary and Joseph were not put out of “the inn” by some insensitive innkeeper, but were told that the guestroom was unavailable. Maybe the guestroom was crowded. Perhaps, the guest room was an upper room of the house, and in her state, Mary would be unable to climb the ladder up to that room; making the “inn” inaccessible. So, they were relegated to the stable in the area of the house where the animals resided.
The Relationships
There is also the possibility that these were relatives of Joseph who found Mary’s pregnancy to be shameful since she had conceived prior to being married. It could have been that Mary was rejected from the comforts of the guestroom but allowed to give birth in the area of the property where the animals take care of their business.
How large was the building the occupants of the home lived in? How many rooms did this house have? Was it a humble dwelling with very few options, or was it a larger building that would’ve had plenty of space and opportunity to accommodate the needs of birthing a child?
For all we know, Mary was about to go into labor any second. Her baby was delivered in a stable of some kind, and Jesus was laid in a manger, which sounds all nice and sweet. But it was indeed a feeding trough for animals. That was the room in the home prepared for Jesus.
Pastor James MacDonald (Chicagoland) spoke on Sunday of the hymn, Joy to the World. We were reminded of the lyric of the first verse that goes as follows:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
Pastor James emphasized the line, Let every heart prepare Him room, while teaching from this story of Christ’s birth from the Scripture cited above. Let every heart prepare him room. Let every heart prepare whom room? Earth’s king! Heaven and nature’s king!
As the pastor spoke of each of us preparing room for Jesus at the very center of how we think and behave, my mind went to this matter of “the inn”. Where have I made room for Jesus in my life? Have I given Jesus carte blanche to every room in my life?
How Much Room?
Have I surrendered my thought-life over to Jesus? Is he permitted to live in that room? Have I surrendered my emotional being and process over to Jesus? Is he permitted to dwell there? What about my possessions and my money? That particular room, just like my thought-life, is often under lock and key. No one enters in until I make the room look presentable. It has its secret compartments and drawers. Do I allow Jesus to step even one foot into that room? What about the room where my relationships live? You know, the room where resentments and jealousies have their own space? Also living in that room is selfish ambition where I covet the prosperity of other, secretly wishing I had what they have.
How much access do I give Jesus, when letting him into my life? Do I give Jesus full access? What does it mean to allow the sovereign King of the universe full access into the various rooms, including the secret places, of my life?
What is striking concerning the birth of Jesus, is that Mary and Joseph likely knew the people whose door they were knocking on. It’s even quite possible that the ones hearing the door knock were family to ready-to-be-born baby Jesus just on the other side of the door.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
These are the words of Jesus. He stands at the door of every heart and knocks, so much wanting to be invited in. He is not a stranger. We are familiar to him. Jesus is family. He is the son of God. We were created to be sons and daughters of God. Do we dare refuse—reject—God’s son as he knocks on our door?
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)
It’s quite possible that as baby Jesus was just outside the door as Joseph knocked, these were friends of the family.
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. John 15:15-16 (NKJV)
Can You Here Me Knocking?
Jesus is at the door to your life. He is knocking with sincere intention bless you with his presence and from his resources. Will you prepare him room and invite him in? Once he is in, which areas of your life will he have access to? Does he stay in the room reserved only for guests? Does he only have access to the stable? He’s not baby Jesus anymore, so the feeding trough is out of the question. He is way too big for that.
Are you willing to afford Jesus full access?
At the door is the king! The king! The king actually owns the house that is your life, but he has given it to you as a gift, and will not take it back unless you choose to surrender it up to him. Even if you permit the king to enter into your life, he will not assume to own those places in your life that you’re unwilling to offer him.
We sold our lives into slavery unto sin since we have this preoccupation with self. It is common to all people. No exception. At the cross, by way of his sacrifice, Jesus bought it back. God sacrificed his very own son to redeem us from slavery back into freedom with him. He redeemed every part of you; every room in your life.
How will you respond to that?
Will you in fact prepare room for Jesus to adjust the fixtures in your life, if that what it takes?
Will you give Jesus access into those places you’ve tried to forget?
You know, the darker places. Places like the attic and the cellar. Those places where you might store the things you’re not proud of. Places where you might try to hide your guilt. Places where you store your resentments, sheltering feelings of unforgiveness because the ones who have hurt you are not sorry.
Jesus is entirely familiar with you. He was there when you were made. He knows you better than you know yourself. Jesus wants to do for you and in you all that is best for you.
Please, prepare him room in your heart to heal you; to restore you into what you were made to be. Please, allow Jesus to deliver you from whatever you may be bound to. Jesus knows you. Let him restore your joy through a renewed quality of life. Let him forgive those things in you that you deem unforgivable. Let him readjust what’s been distorted by the renewing of your mind. Let him change how you think by refining your desires and sense of need. Let Jesus carry the burden that’s been crushing you. Let him bathe you in the waters of his grace. Open the door and invite Jesus in to bless you, defend you, protect you, and provide for you.
Make room for the king. Then, see what happens.
