Luke 2:6-7 "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (7) 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."
We read in verse 1, "And it came to pass..." and now we read in verse
6, "And so it was..." Can we conclude from these two phrases
that there is something we should take to heart as we read them? We saw
yesterday that God brought to pass that which had been declared even from
eternity past. In the fullness of time, He would send His Son into the
world. We saw that He had declared through His Prophet Micah that this
miraculous birth would take place in the town of Bethlehem. I believe God
put into the mind of Caesar to declare a census to be taken at that point in
order for Joseph to take Mary and the unborn BABY to Bethlehem. "And so it
was..." Yes, it came to pass.
"She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes." There are many thoughts as to what the "swaddling
clothes" consisted of. It has been said that they were dirty rags that
were found in the stable. I personally do not believe that. Mary knew,
within reason, that the baby would be born while in Bethlehem. There is no way
she would have made that trip without taking provision for her baby. When
our babies were born and brought into the room, they were wrapped (swaddled)
tightly in a warm blanket that helped them feel secure. I believe Mary took
those warm blankets with her by which she swaddled the Baby Jesus to keep him
soothed all nice and warm and secure in her loving arms.
Now we come to the portion of this text that should cause each of us to stop
and take inventory of our hearts and minds even at this moment of time.
"There was no room for them in the inn." We aren't told that it
was the innkeeper that told them to go to the stable or if Joseph saw it as a
place to get out of the elements of the weather. However it took place, they
wound up in the stable where Mary laid her precious baby boy in a soft bed of
hay. We often say, "Why didn't someone give up their room for this
couple when it was very evident that she was about to give birth?"
Why didn't the innkeeper give up his room for them to have a place to
stay for the night? It's easy for me to look back at these people and
say, "They should have given them their room." And it's easy
for me to look around and try to determine who has allowed the things of the
world to crowd out the room that should be given in the heart for the Lord
Jesus Christ.
But my question for me (and if it fits, for you) is this... Why do I allow
things of the world to crowd out my devotion and love for my precious Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ? What is so important that it has taken the place
that rightfully belongs to my Lord? Am I willing to give up the temporary
in order to make room for the One Who loves me so much that He left the glory
of heaven to be born that night in the rugged stable in Bethlehem and
ultimately take my place on that old rugged cross to die in my place? Is
there room in the "inn of my heart" for Jesus to have precedence in
my life?