The First Christmas Was Inconvenient Series

I am sure there were cattle, sheep, chickens coming in and out while Mary was giving birth. Now, it seems like a very pregnant woman would be given the best place to deliver a baby but no. The main thing I want to bring out is that there was no room for them. Whether an inn or a house, there was no room! The question is, why not? Now granted Bethlehem was crowded. Many traced their lineage back to King David and all of these came home. The problem was that Joseph and Mary were late to the party. Really, no room anywhere but a stable? Bob had to change the sign to say, “No room for Jesus?”

Thesis: Why is there no room for Jesus?

For instances:

1. No room because Jesus didn’t fit into their lives

John 1:11 says, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” People rejected Mary and Joseph because they had their own lives to live. They had a place to stay, Mary and Joseph didn’t. Tough. We got here first. In order for them to have a place to stay, others would have to give up their place and they didn’t want to be bothered. Letting Jesus be born in their room/ house was inconvenient. Jesus is becoming more and more inconvenient in our culture. Leaving Christ out of Christmas. It is amazing to me how many Christmas movies make no reference to the Christ child, or if they do it is only in passing. Love a Charlie Brown Christmas. When Charlie Brown is at his lowest point, he turns to Linus and admits he doesn’t know what he’s doing, to which Linus recites the text of Luke 2:8-14. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men. That’s what Christmas is really about, Charlie Brown.” That was controversial even in the 1960’s. That’s right the baby Jesus is controversial and we need to steer clear of that. Jesus came to die for sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. People don’t like to hear that. That truth is inconvenient for a world that would rather not be bothered with the truth. There is no room in their homes, and no room in their lives for Jesus to be born. The early Christians turned the world upside down. They didn’t have manger scenes in their yards to proclaim their faith! How could Christians possibly have changed the world without Christmas decorations to proclaim that Jesus had been born? Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ…

2. No room because Jesus’ message didn’t fit into their thinking

Could go several ways here but keep in mind that Mary was pregnant. Mary’s pregnancy had the taint of illegitimacy. Notice that when she showed up in Bethlehem, Joseph was still “betrothed (pledged to be married NIV, engaged to Joseph Christian Standard Bible)- they were not technically man and wife yet. So many did not want them in their home because of this. There was no room because they saw her as a sinful woman. From his birth onward, the question of paternity was raised. In the midst of Jesus’ ministry, His enemies said, “We are not illegitimate children” (John 8:41), implying that He was (going on a limb here but maybe not). Getting back to the last point, Mary was rejected because of the sin people thought they saw in her life. Thus people had no room for Jesus because they had no room for sinners. But sinners are who Jesus came to save. And sinners are the ones that Jesus uses to spread his message. The gospel is spread by people who are imperfect and the rejected ones of this world. Back in December of 1792, a boy named Joseph Mohr was born in Salzburg, Austria. He was illegitimate. Because of his illegitimacy, Joseph was banned from attending school, learning a trade or even from holding a job. Even so, Joseph Mohr loved to sing. One night he wrote a song we know- and I’d like us to sing it with me: Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin, Mother and Child. Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in…