And 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. Luke 2:7 NAS
It is only mentioned in Luke.
And Luke doesn’t comment. He simply states the fact…no room. Nothing more.
I want more information.
How many doors did Joseph knock on?
How many people were too busy to answer their door?
Was this the first and only request Joseph made for a place to spend the night?
I want a name.
I want to know more.
But none of the other writers even mention it.
Only Luke and he simply offers the excuse-
no room.
Who was that masked…uh unnamed man?
I want to know his name, so I can point my chubby finger in his face….
But maybe Scripture is silent
because the innkeeper is not an anonymous man, but me.
I’ve been too busy!
I’ve been too tired!
I’ve been too caught up in catching up with what’s happening on Facebook or my favorite TV Series.
I’ve been too full, too lazy, too content, too satisfied to simply make room for JESUS.
Not Simeon
About six miles away from the little town of Bethlehem lived a man who made room.
He had a promise that He would see the Christ.
So he watched.
He waited.
He prayed.
He made room.
He made time.
He lived his priority.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit that rested on this devout and just man, Simeon went into the temple just as Mary and Joseph arrived to obey the law of consecration through circumcision. How’s that for perfect timing!
Immediately Simeon recognized this baby was the Christ, the Messiah promised by God. I can only imagine his excitement, his elation, his trembling body, as he held that baby near his heart. Tears of joy had to have run down his checks as he held the Christ, the Messiah in his arms.
Anna, the prophetess,
was the only other person in the whole place that recognized the Messiah.
All the others,
- the priests,
- the religious leaders,
- the religious people,
- all busy doing religious things.
- Fulfilling their duty.
- But in the midst of doing what they needed to do…they missed Him.
And we still miss Him because, we don’t…
make room for Him,
look for Him,
include Him,
expect Him,
worship Him.
I believe if you could talk with Simeon,
he would pat you on your shoulder and run his other hand through his white beard.
He would smile with a wide knowing grin and explain…
NOTHING is more important than SEEING, TOUCHING, LOVING Jesus!
and Simeon discovered that personally!
So simple a child can do it… so powerful we all should do it.