THE INNKEEPER WHO MISSED CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:7
Text: “. . .and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them
The man who ran the motel in Bethlehem, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where millions of Jews had come for the census, is used as a representative of the human soul who slams the door in the face of Jesus and does not allow Him in. He, it is often said, looked at a young woman about to give birth and her terrified husband - all men are terrified at the moment of birth! - and callously said, “Go away!”
Maybe, however, this fellow has received a bum rap. Maybe he never saw Mary or knew she was pregnant.
Maybe Joseph never even asked him because he knew the inn was full. Maybe this man, with no power to give a room, went with Joseph and Mary to the motel stable and helped find them the nicest, cleanest, warmest spot possible.
The end result, whatever his attitude, was that on a lower floor, in the courtyard, in someone’s barn or shed and perhaps, as ancient legends have it, in a cave where animals were quartered, the Son of God was born. He was placed in a feeding trough, manger, probably made of wood or if, in a cave, carved out of stone.
We have beautified and sentimentalized this beyond imagination - but, ladies and gentlemen, in a city overcrowded to the breaking point, a stable is not a place to walk in, much less be born in.
Leslie Flynn in “Christmas Messages” tells of a missionary who visited in a home and slept in the barn. The smell was nauseating, every step he took he feared he would step in manure or be stepped on or kicked.
I believe the one hurt the most was Joseph. He probably wept as much as Mary did as he saw her pain, the stinking surroundings, their poverty, the indifference of people and his utter helplessness.
That, said R. Kent Hughes, would make any man want to curse or cry. Let’s zero in amidst all this madness and busy-ness on the man or woman who ran the motel in Bethlehem and listen to what he or she might say to us in the rush-rush-rush, madness and busy-ness of the Christmas season. He or she might say. . .
I. LISTEN UP
Through the noise of the crowds and the cash registers, remember God has done and is doing something wonderful and special in the earth. He is sending His Son. He is coming in the person of His Son. And He is doing it personally, for you and for me.
Don’t get lost in the crowds. You and I are not just “one more” in the masses that are pushed and pulled through the season. He came to reveal God and to redeem or deliver you and me from the guilt, power and eternal penalty of sin. And He came in a dirty stable.
1. The Stable Speaks of Hostility.
Jesus, from that day to this, is on the outside looking in to a hostile world that wants no part of Him.
John 1:10-11 says, “He was in the world, and though the world did not recognize him He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
The world has its place for Jesus Christ - outside! They are in the inn being comfortable and joyful and having their needs met, and Christ is in the stable they think about at Christmas time.
2. The Stable Speaks of Humility.
Paul said that when the eternal God, in Jesus, came to this planet He hurled out in space that “He humbled Himself” (Phil. 2).
The Creator could have ridden in on a comet or been born in a palace made of pure gold, but He was born in a barn. This points to the humility of His incarnation - God took on all the burdens of humanity except our sin nature.
But Jesus also took on the added humility of voluntary poverty and was reduced to borrowing - something most of us are too proud to do. He borrowed a stable for his birth. . .
- a bed, for He said He had none.
- a basket of food to feed His hearers.
- a boat to stand and preach in.
- a donkey to ride on.
- a room to eat His last supper in.
- a coin from a fish to pay taxes.
- a grave to be buried in.
We are, as I suppose we should be, self sufficient and Independent. We earn our way and pay our way. But our Lord, to do the Father’s will and give Himself to His mission, humbled Himself and lived on the generosity and kindness of others.
3. The Stable Speaks of Availability.
There is a horrible class system among human beings and we hang “Not Welcome!” signs on our homes, our neighborhoods, our golf courses, our churches, our hearts. But Jesus was born like a common man, in the best place his mother and father could find.
The inn might be closed and many Bethlehem homes might be closed to the “wrong kind” of people (whatever that means). But anybody can go in a barn. The door is wide open - come on in. Spurgeon said,
“We might tremble to approach a throne. But we are not afraid to approach a manger.
Even as a baby in the manger, He was the sinner’s friend.”
All His life, and to this very day, the King of kings, the Lord of Lords and the Ruler of the universe says,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. . .for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. . .”(Mt. 11:28, 29).
Illustration: When young Joan of Arc was about to be burned at the stake by the church because she followed the “voices” that told her God’s will, the Arch Bishop tried to save her. He asked her to recant and say she never heard the voices. He said it was a terrible tragedy for her to die because she thought she heard voices from God.
Joan, brave and faithful to the end, said, “Arch Bishop, the greater tragedy is that you, the head of the church, have not heard the voices.”
Listen up, Mr. Innkeeper! Listen up, you and me! Above the crowds and cash registers can you hear the voice of the Christmas message from the stable.
Can you hear about our hostility as we push Jesus out or down to the lowest priority.
Can you hear about God’s humility in sending His Son to live and die for you and me.
Can you hear the availability message - Come unto me, whoever you are and whatever you have done, and find forgiveness, power to live better and heaven. Listen up!
Adrian Rogers said, “Jesus was born in a stable because that is where lambs are born".
II. LIGHTEN UP
1. In Criticizing Christmas.
The modern Christmas has become so hectic and commercialized and busy that the stress for a lot of people is almost unbearable. Our government, not knowing what to do with manger scenes and Christmas carols, takes “Christ” out and makes it a holiday instead of a holy day. Because of this many Christians turn on it with a fury. I can’t do this.
For one thing, I am married to “Mrs. Christmas!” For another thing, Christmas to me was the happiest part of my childhood. And I ask, what better time to celebrate the birth of Savior than the happiest times of childhood, the time of present giving and the time families come together?
It was crowded in Jerusalem and Bethlehem but Joseph and Mary were together and it wasn’t long before they were serenaded by angels and visited by shepherds, and in a home where wise men came to visit. Lighten up, church, on criticizing Christmas.
I thank God that millions of people think about and talk about Jesus for a few days a year who would never do it if we didn’t have a Christmas season.
Also, let’s be happy that even lost people who don’t know our Lord have a little added happiness in their lives because of Him. Don’t be like the Puritans whose greatest problem was insomnia. They stayed awake at night worrying that somewhere, somehow, somebody might be having some fun. But lighten up also. .
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2. In Complicating Christmas.
This does not mean, however, that we have to be a part of the madness Christmas has become. This was the busiest, most hectic, hair pulling time of that innkeeper’s life and the same is true of us. He had too much to do to go spend time with Jesus and so do we.
One of the busiest places on the planet at Christmas is a church. And we play a large part in fragmenting and frustrating the family at Christmas time.
Take Manger Scenes:
There used to be several beautiful church manger scenes in Atlanta. There were wooden figures and real animals grazing.
Lines of cars, including my family’s, loved to drive by. That wasn’t enough so the churches started “live” manger scenes. That wasn’t enough so now we have several churches with drive through manger scenes (plural).
Take Musical Productions:
I would love to see one year a church like ours put on what they used to call the “Annual Christmas Pageant” with kids with momma-made wings and sheep ears messing up their lines.
The hardest work our choir directors do is Christmas time. And in the hectic pace we often forget what’s important.
My mother and I one year wanted to go to church and sing Christmas carols the Sunday before Christmas.
Not one church had a carol service.
Take Christmas parties: Every Sunday School class and many other church organizations have their own Christmas parties.
Take Worship services:
One lady, calling to ask if we had a “Christmas Eve” service (Tuesday night) was astonished that we didn’t. I looked and some churches have a Christmas Eve service. Some have two - one at 5:00 for the early birds and one at 11:00-midnight for the late birds. And one (if you can believe this) had a Christmas Eve Eve (Dec. 23) service so people could be home with their kids. Give me a break!
Folks, I hope I am not being too critical. You may love all this and more. All I’m asking is - how much is enough? How far do we go? Let’s get back to some basics and lighten up on complicating Christmas. This was the busiest, most hectic, hair pulling time of that innkeeper’s life and ours.
III. OPEN UP
1. Our Hearts to the Lord.
This inn is a good symbol of those who reject the Lord. The only way to celebrate Christmas is as a Christian. When we receive God’s wonderful gift of salvation, we can sing the carols from the heart. . .”O Holy Child of Bethlehem/ Descend to me I pray/Cast out my sin and enter in/Be born in me today.”
2. Our Hands to the Needy.
I hope this motel manager was the one responsible for getting Mary a warm, dry place in the barn. God bless whoever did it, whoever helped. I hope he or she went to check on them and brought them food and, for Mary and even Joseph’s sake, brought a midwife to deliver the baby.
That’s what Christmas is all about - opening our hearts and lives to Jesus and our hands and hearts to those who need our help.
