We often stay at Holiday Inn. Clean rooms, fair price, other reasons too. I made this photo last Saturday in front our motel in Conyers, Georgia. Preaching a sweet Revival in the nearby City of Between, Georgia. Early this morning the name of that motel chain impressed me as never before … in the light of Christmas anyway! Holiday INN, it’s called!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

Mary, Joseph too, had traveled over 90 miles, by donkey we presume. From Nazareth to Bethlehem,  a situation requiring more than one overnight stay! Did I mention … Mary was “with child?” Ready to be delivered.

Then Luke tells us, while “out of town” … “She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was NO ROOM for them in the INN.” Luke 2:4, amazing, “no room in the inn!”

But, wait a minute! Was not Joseph’s family from Bethlehem? Is that not why he had to go there to be “taxed,” counted or registered? He was of “the house and lineage of David,” whose “kin” lived in the Bethlehem area, at least based on reading Luke 2:4.

I have a question. If relatives of Joseph resided in Bethlehem, why did he and Mary even need to get a room in an “inn?” (Not the Holiday Inn, either. “Inns” back then were often less than clean … and possibly even dangerous places to lay one’s head!)

I also have a (possible) answer. MAYBE Joseph’s family and Mary’s family did not (yet) believe the couple’s account of what had happened. Of an angel coming! Of God conceiving a baby … in Mary’s body! Perhaps they did not approve of these two running around together NOT yet being married!

Maybe this couple was NOT welcome in any of the relatives’ homes … because there appeared to be a “taint” over their very relationship, over Mary’s pregnancy!

Anyway, “there was NO ROOM for them in the INN.”

But, praise God, THERE IS ROOM in the heart of God, of the Lord Jesus, for sinners!

No room for Him, when He was born!

But lots of room IN HIM, as the Saviour of the world!

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus gave this invitation, Matthew 11:30. Sure sounds like there is room!

Also, “He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Jesus again, John 6:37, what a promise!

Even in the Bible’s last Book, Revelation, there is yet room! “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

The song writer worded it this way …

There’s room at the cross for you
There’s room at the cross for you
Though millions have come
There’s still room for one
Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.

Praise the Lord!

No room FOR Him, two thousand years ago.

Unlimited room IN Him, even this very minute!

What a Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

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