“… there was no room for them in the inn.”
-Luke 2:7b
As I write, the temperatures are dropping and the snow accumulating. My Bible is plopped open to the wondrous story of Jesus’ birth in the gospel of Luke. I have always found a home among the shepherds “living in the fields nearby, keeping their watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:8). Usually, a beautiful medley of carols ushers me through to the end of the Christmas story. Typically, I am in awe of the angelic pronouncement to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David is a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (2:11), and I am drawn to the shepherds’ worshipful response of finding “Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (2:16). I suspect, by Christmas, these words from the gospel and the carols will enchant my heart once again.
On that holiest of nights, Luke reports on the unfolding scene in Bethlehem, “The time came for the baby to be born, and [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son” (2:6-7a). We are informed the new mother “wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (2:7b). Honestly, I haven’t given much air-time to the innkeeper in years. The innkeeper holds no speaking parts in Christmas pageants, yet alone the gospel. On occasion, I have glanced at the Greek term used for “inn” to better understand the Christmas story. Mostly, I just slow down long enough to hear the buzz on the neon sign that reads “no vacancy” on my way out of town.
In Kelley Nikondeha’s book The First Advent in Palestine, she argues that Luke’s line, “there was no room for them in the inn” (2:7b) may be better translated as “there was no space for them in the guest room of the home.” No innkeeper would have turned away a pregnant woman, especially when the baby in her womb has dropped. So, this year, in preparation for Christ’s arrival, I want to challenge you and myself to spend some time with the innkeeper. Maybe we can do some investigative journalism to uncover the story within the Christmas story. What I invite you to explore within your imagination, Nikondeha did literally with modern-day innkeepers on Star Street in Bethlehem. She observes, “even innkeepers need to eat, purveyors of tea have school fees to pay for their children, shopkeepers have medical bills to settle.” Perhaps, in re-evaluating our low opinion of the innkeeper and in re-reading his heart we might see our own reflection in the nameless and wordless innkeeper from that night long ago.
Recently, I began to listen the Christian band Casting Crowns’ version of Make Room. It is a lovely meditation on the innkeeper. Multiple times a day, ponder about that unknown innkeeper and make the interpretative leap from the ancient world to today asking,
Is there room in your heart?
Is there room in your heart?
Is there room in your heart?
For God to write His story?
As the sanctuary is prepared for the Advent season and the carols slowly make their long-awaited entrance, let us modern-day innkeepers create the space in our crowded lives for Christmas’ “good news of great joy” (2:10). Beginning on December 1st, read one chapter from the gospel of Luke each day. In doing so, you will have read the entirety of Luke from Jesus’ birth to his death and resurrection. When we arrive on Christmas Eve @ 7pm, we will with greater clarity understand the meaning of The Cradle, the Cross, and the Gift of Emmanuel. We will sing with deeper conviction Silent Night as our candles flicker amid the darkness. Maybe on this night, more than a baby will be born.
Make room in your heart!
Make room in your heart!
Merry Christmas,
Nicholas Perry, innkeeper
Advent Schedule
Sunday, December 17 – 10 am Special Music
Tuba Ensemble:
Euphoniums: Pauline Emilson, Andi Mansfield
Tubas: Roger Chagnon III, Denny Roach, Tahner Stow
Thursday, December 21 – 7pm – Blue Christmas
Sunday, December 24 – 7pm – Christmas Eve Service
Sunday, December, 31 – (No Sunday School)
10:00 – Stump the musician
Come and request your favorite
Christmas/ Advent Hymns