No Room In the Inn

So the other afternoon, I was walking out to do evening chores as the sun was going down.  The cows were gathered around the hay ring, chewing on hay to fill their bellies.  Soon, I'd bring them in the barn, give them all some dairy ration mixed with alfalfa and beet pulp.  That always makes them happy.  Even though it was a little cool, the lights in the window of the barn were casting a warm glow that got me thinking.

We're in the season in which we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As I look at the barn, I think of the following verse from the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 2:7 (KJV)  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Joseph, by order of Caesar Augustus, was being called back to his hometown to register for a census.  But wait a minute.  Mary was pregnant.  Very pregnant.  I'm sure that it was really difficult to travel in such state.  To make matters worse, lots of people were traveling during census time and there was no vacancy in the inn.  They had to make do and sleep out in the stable.

Nativity scenes always look so rustic and nice.  Now, I'm not sure how the barn or cave that Jesus was born in actually looked, but I have a feeling that nativity scenes have an 'optimistic' slant.  I never see spider webs or rats or puddles of urine or piles of poop in nativity scenes, but I know full well that stables where animals are kept contain such things.  It isn't pretty.  It doesn't smell good.  It is loud with animal noises, full of insects and crowded with cows, goats, chickens and sheep.  It is not nice to talk about.

To be sure, it isn't a place fit for a King.  But He humbled Himself, and came to earth as a suffering servant.  He would grow up and eventually die a cruel death to break the curse of sin and death.

As we remember the birth of our Lord, I am reminded of His humility, His compassion, and His love for mankind.  He came to bring Peace on Earth and Good will to Mankind.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Philippians 2:5-8

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift of Jesus Christ who brings salvation to those who believe! 

God With Us!

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18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:18-23

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!