by Christopher L. Scott
Americans are busy. We have jobs, production quotas, projects, deadlines, reviews, and sales quotas. Why do we work so much and so hard?
It was a busy time, too, when Jesus was about to be born, because of a census ordered by Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1, 2). He did this so citizens could register and be assessed taxes. This meant “everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city” (v. 3).
At that time, approximately eight million Jews lived in the Roman Empire, and Joseph and Mary were among those Jews traveling for the census. Luke writes, “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child” (vv. 4, 5).
The people of Bethlehem probably did not have space to accommodate all the people going there to register for the census. Most middle-class housing in Bethlehem had one large common area, rooms for the family, and often a guest room for travelers. Many homes had a lower-level section built into the side of a hill where animals were kept. (Or they would be kept in a cave.)
In his Gospel, Luke shows us that a Roman emperor makes a decree, lots of commotion happens, and then when it’s time for Jesus to be born, there’s no room for Mary and Joseph in the common places guests would stay. Luke writes, “She gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (v. 7).
Because there were no guest rooms available, the Child was born in a room where animals normally stayed. He was placed in a manger (a feeding trough for animals) and wrapped in strips of clothing to keep His body straight and warm.
Like those people in Bethlehem, you and I have our own stuff going on. We’ve got dinner to prepare, a house to clean, trips to the store, a career to keep on track, and volunteer jobs at church. There was no room for Jesus in Bethlehem. Is there room for Him in our hearts and lives? Does He get a portion of our time every day when we read His Word? Does He receive uninterrupted communication with us in prayer? Does He have a say in our decisions? Does He get our attention only when we desperately need Him for something, or hear from us only when we have a prayer we need answered?
More than two thousand years ago, there was no room for Jesus Christ when He arrived. I pray that we have room for Him in our lives. Whether we do this the first time by placing our faith in Him or by using our time, energy, and money more wisely, let’s make sure the Redeemer has room.
