“because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7b
Preface: In the Christmas story, we see that there was no room in the inn. However, we really don’t know the exact details. Was the innkeeper even involved in telling Joseph and Mary there was no room or was the information passed on via word of mouth by those traveling in the city or some other way? Maybe it was the innkeeper, and a man, who turned Joseph and Mary away?
It was perhaps a chaotic night. Customers coming and going. Rooms filling up, voices echoing against the walls and creaming the auditory space with a mesh of vocal emotions. The throbbing sense of busyness framing every movement and thought of a man bearing the responsibility of a busy inn.
And then the knock …or maybe a call. The sudden indication that at least one more desired entry.
It was just another. Another normal. Another usual. Another … just another ordinary?
What if it had been that morning this innkeeper looked out at the sunrise and longed in his heart for the coming of the Messiah? Perhaps he felt the strains of that time’s politics, perhaps he wondered if there really was redemption and beauty in the midst of a daily grind. Maybe he felt deeply the desire to witness himself the coming of One Who would bring salvation.
And then night came–life pressed in on all sides, filled his mind, reverberated through his ears and placed thickness in his soul’s ability to see.
When the knock came.
A knock, a call. What looked like an ordinary couple. Nothing seemingly extraordinary to the eyes–nothing more than the usual overwhelm he perhaps was already trying to deal with.
This was just another burden to his already taxed strength.
This was just another “problem” to his already weighted experience.
Or was it?
And when he turned …when he left their presence …perhaps that morning’s thought struck him and he wondered …
…what if?
