Jesus is the reason for the season

Sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Season that we fail to celebrate its real purpose. Two ladies were shopping for Christmas gifts and one of them commented about a manger scene, “Look at that — religion is trying to take over Christmas.” We all know that the birth of Jesus is the reason for the season.

Luke’s gospel shares facts about the birth of Jesus. Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Mary was pregnant and about to give birth to Jesus, who would be her first child and that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He goes on to mention that there was no vacancy at the Inn and that Jesus was born in a stable.

If the innkeeper was insensitive, perhaps he turned Joseph and Mary away without caring that she was about to give birth. If the innkeeper really cared, he could have asked one of his guests to give up their room by explaining Mary’s circumstances and needs, or he could have given Mary and Joseph his own living quarters.

There was no evidence that the innkeeper did not care. Luke seems to leave it up to us to decide. History does suggest that inns of that day were simple and rustic. Many stables back then were similar to the inns. They were reasonably clean, usually quieter and more private than the inn. Guests usually brought their own food, and the innkeeper would provide a place to heat the food as well as a place for the guest to sleep.

The innkeeper would also provide a place for the animals to stay and food for them. Therefore, in Mary and Joseph’s case, the innkeeper may have been caring by providing them with the most private accommodations that he had

available.

Chuck Swindoll, a popular and respected Bible teacher and preacher, tells a story regarding the presentation of a Christmas pageant. Wally was a socially promoted fourth grade student who desired to be Joseph but had been chosen to be the innkeeper because he was larger than the other boys in the fourth grade. During practice, Wally did as he was told by responding to Joseph’s request for a room with a gruff voice saying “I have no more rooms!”

However, during the pageant’s first presentation after Wally said gruffly, “I have no more rooms,” he watched Mary and Joseph as they walked away. Suddenly, overcame with emotion and teary eyed, Wally cried out “Come back, Joseph and Mary. You can have my room!” For a moment the director and the audience thought Wally’s emotional outburst would negatively affect the pageant, but instead it added new depth.

Christmas is usually a busy time for most of us, and unfortunately, even we Christians can get so busy that we do not observe Christmas for the right reason. Let us all make room for Jesus in our life this Christmas Season. More importantly, if you have not already done so, make room for Jesus permanently in your life as I did 72 years ago at age 10.

In closing, let me share with you this Christmas poem written by Helen Sleiner Rice that is titled “Gift of Love.”

“Christmas is a gift of love that cannot be bought or sold. It is ours for the asking and is worth more than gold.

And this priceless gift of Christmas is within the reach of all. The rich, the poor, the young and old, the greatest and the small.

So take God’s Christmas gift of love, reach out and you will receive, and the only payment that God asks is just that you believe.”

May you all have a wonderful and Blessed Christmas Season and enjoy the time you will have to spend with your family, always remembering that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.”

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