I have been posting 12 Questions of Christmas on my Facebook page this Christmas season, and I thought I would share one of those posts with you.

How About the Stable?

“I have no room.” the innkeeper replied. Her spirits fell at the sound of those words. Heavy with pregnancy, Mary had travelled many miles from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem with her husband, Joseph. A decree had gone out that all should be registered in the town of their birth. For Joseph and Mary, the journey led to Bethlehem, the city of David. Exhaustion and discomfort had settled in long ago as the night fell around them. Mary was beginning to feel the twinge of a different pain. More than discomfort. She just needed a quiet place to rest.

Knowing her time was coming upon her, Joseph searched for a place for Mary to deliver God’s Son. Finding an inn had brought hope for shelter for this special birth. You see, weary travelers of that day would pass an “inn” as they made their way toward Jerusalem. Similar to the hostels of our day, travelers would often share common spaces – sleeping in larger rooms to accommodate many. In the lower level, there was an open area, almost like a courtyard where the animals would be cared for. Rather than a stable with stalls, this courtyard-like area housed the animals for the evening with food provided in mangers filled with hay. The inn had no room, so how about the stable?

It was there that the Son of God entered the world.

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)

Jesus was born into the humblest of circumstances. No room, no bed, no privacy, no comfort – instead an open area, animals, a manger, a King. Yes, the King of Kings was wrapped by Mary in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. Jesus left His throne in the highest heavens to humbly come to earth to be the Savior of the world. His humility led to glory as the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) The Messiah had come.

The innkeeper offered all he had. Jesus came to give us all we need. Accept His gift of salvation today.

Merry Christmas to all of you! I pray you will have a wonderful time with family and friends celebrating the birth of our Savior!

In His Love,

Susan