Room for Jesus

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.

Lk. 2:7

It was an inauspicious beginning for the earthly life of the incarnate Son of God. The Saviour entered the world with neither position nor possessions. Though it is often sentimentalized, the manger remains a symbol of Christ’s willing condescension. And even though many were blind to this awesome event, heaven recognized it for what it was (vs. 10-14), and men and women of faith accepted the truth of it (vs. 20, 29-30, 38).

Phillips’ paraphrase has, “And as there was no place for them inside the inn, she wrapped Him up and laid Him in a manger.” Great scorn is heaped upon the innkeeper for having no place for Jesus. But this seems a little unfair.

The Roman census required that all return to the place of their birth to be registered. For Joseph and Mary, that was Bethlehem, because of their kinship to King David. However, that was surely true of many others who came to the little town. And because Mary was expecting a child, their trip from Nazareth may well have been slower. When they arrived, the inn was full.

Without some kind of divine revelation of who Mary’s Baby was, the innkeeper could not be expected to do other than he did. We are not actually told that it was he who made the suggestion of shelter in a stable, or using a manger for a crib, but perhaps it was. Maybe he had great sympathy for Mary, and did the best he could to give the couple shelter.

But there is another interesting possibility. Were any of Mary and Joseph’s family in that inn? Any others from Nazareth? Perhaps. And if so, why did one of them not surrender some space for the two, given Mary’s special need? The answer may be that family members were already shunning Joseph and Mary, believing them to having been immoral, with a Child conceived before they were married.

Whatever the case back then, we do need to make a current application. It was the prayer of the Apostle Paul that the Ephesian believers welcome Christ into their lives. He says: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph. 4:14, 17).

Here the apostle is not referring to the initial indwelling of Christ, through the Spirit, which takes place at conversion. He is writing to Christians. They could say already, as Paul does, “Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). But the Greek word he uses for “dwell” carries more of the idea of settle down and be at home in. It refers more specifically to our perception of Christ’s presence, and to intimate communion with Him. It parallels what Jesus calls “abiding” in John 15, and may be summarized as Christ-centred living.

I once heard a Jewish rabbi, in a televised synagogue service, point out to his congregation that the word hear is found in the word heart (as is the word ear). He stated that this should remind us that the one with a heart for God will have ear ready to receive His Word. With this Paul would concur. The at-homeness of Christ in our hearts will mean that we hear His voice, through the Scriptures, and readily believe and obey Him.

And for those who do not yet know Him at all, who have not put their faith in Christ for salvation, you have a need to invite Him into your life.

Have you any room for Jesus,
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinners, will you let Him in?

Room for Jesus, King of glory!
Hasten now His Word obey;
Swing the heart’s door widely open,
Bid Him enter while you may.

Room for pleasure, room for business,
But for Christ the Crucified,
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died?