Christmas Luke 2:1-20 No Room for Christ

Isaiah 62:10-12 Titus 3:4-7

There is a story that has been told over the years in many different ways. It is a story about a family who was tired from traveling a long way.  Finally, they came to a hotel and the father asked for a room. The manager told him that they were fully booked and there were no rooms available.  But the man did not give up.  He said to the manager, "Now be honest with me.  If the President of the United States would have walked through that door just now and requested a room, would you have found a place for Him to stay?" The manager replied, "Well, if the President needed a room, we would find one for him." Then the man said, "That’s great.  I know for a fact that he’s not coming, so we will take his room."

That story has been told in many different ways and the people in it have been different characters.  The man has been a single traveler.  The president has been an ambassador or a king and the hotel manager has been an innkeeper.  But the points of the story are the same.  If you are important enough, people are willing to treat you differently.  If you are rich enough or famous enough people will go out of their way to say that they know you or that they came to your aid when you needed help. People are also willing to make a special effort to please someone that they admire and respect.

Tonight we read about a family who traveled from the little town of Nazareth; a town so insignificant, that Nathaniel later asked, “Can anything good come from there?”  (John 1:46) Joseph and Mary were on their way to register in Bethlehem along with huge crowds and the inns were full. To the innkeeper Joseph and Mary appeared no different from the crowds.  They were average people and average people get no special attention during busy times. But Mary was with child and perhaps the innkeeper took that into consideration and let them stay in a stable.

But He had no idea, not a clue, that the One being carried in Mary’s womb would become the greatest King the world would ever know.   So this night, the One who would be given all power and authority over heaven and earth, would be turned away from the inn.  He did not stay in the presidential suite. Nor was He dressed in royal apparel.  They didn’t have ‘Huggies’ in those days. His diapers were rags; regular clothing that had been torn into strips.   He came into this world poor, humble and wrapped in little strips of cloth.  The greatest of all Kings slept in a stable, a stone cave.  His birth came about unnoticed by most of the world.

In fact, the announcement of His miraculous birth was made by an angel who appeared neither to the rich and powerful nor to the religious leaders, but to a group of poor shepherds.  For many people, Christmas is about making a special effort to please someone you love and respect. On the day that Christ was born, Shepherds were the least respected people among all of Israel. Because they were considered sinful and unclean, they were also the ones who had the most to fear from God.  When the angel appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them” Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Fear not you people who are sinners, for today your Savior is born.  He has not come in power and glory to declare His wrath upon the nations. Rather He comes quietly, and as gentle as he possibly can. He comes as a helpless baby to inspire awe and love among those who are most willing to go and see Him.

 Today, the One who holds all creation in His hand is cradled in the arms of His virgin mother. The One who gives food to the hungry, is fed on milk from His mother. The fullness of ‘God with us’, Immanuel, is contained in a small child, born of a Virgin. The eternal Word of God becomes human flesh and blood. The Creator becomes part of creation.  Jesus, the one who saves, becomes both God and man.

“And Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” 

We should follow Mary's example as well and keep and ponder these wonderful things in our hearts.  For unless His wonderful birth, the words of the angel, the songs of the heavenly host, and the joy of the shepherds finds its way into our hearts, it is all for nothing. Unless this Child is born in us, and we are born in him we will be turned away from His house forever, condemned in our sin.  That is why Jesus came.  He came so that God, that great Innkeeper would recognize you when you come to the end of your journey. 

Jesus came to save us from sin, from death, and from hell.  Jesus considered you so important, that he was willing to die, to make room for you in God’s eternal kingdom. Tonight we ponder all these things:

He was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus that he might be crucified under Pontius Pilate.

He was born a tender Lamb, so that He might be the Lamb God, who takes away the sin of the world.

He was born in earthly poverty so that all who trust in Him might become rich in heavenly treasure.

He was born the child of Mary so that we might be reborn as children of God.

He was laid as an infant in the stone cave of Bethlehem, so that he might lay in a stone tomb to save us from the grave.

He slept high in the manger, so that He could be lifted high on the cross for our sins.

He was wrapped in swaddling cloths in His birth so that He might be wrapped in burial cloths in His death; cloths that would not hold Him forever.

His birth was announced by angels, so that angels might proclaim His resurrection.

He was worshiped by humble shepherds and honored by wise men, so that heaven and earth might praise Him, and all nations would bow down and worship Him.

He came in humility to die so that He might come again in His glory.

He was born in Bethlehem which means “house of bread” so that He could feed us.  Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." (John 6:51) 

He comes to us, here and now, clothed in the same humility of that holy night two thousand years ago. Here you will find him wrapped in the swaddling cloths of the Scriptures and mangered in lowliness of the sacraments. And this will be the sign for you, you will find him hidden under the water of Baptism, under the words of the preacher, under the bread and the wine of the Holy Supper.

Here, He comes to you, gently, humbly, hidden, but with great power, so that you might receive Him as your Savior and your Christ. Here you are in the company of the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven who worship God's Child. Here, in the Church, the search for Jesus ends.  Here in the Liturgy, the holy Child of Bethlehem speaks to you, forgives you, feeds you His own body and blood, and gives you His life.

Tonight, look at how bright the stars are; even the planets are brighter tonight than they have been in many years. Ponder Jesus Christ, the light of the world, the true light which darkness cannot overcome. Look at the ‘evergreen’ of the Christmas trees and ponder the gift of eternal life that He offers you in His Name.  Look at the water that keeps the Christmas tree alive for this short season and ponder your Baptism, that living water of Christ that springs to eternal life.  As you exchange your gifts, ponder the Gift that was laid in a manger, wrapped in cloths.  Think about how He exchanged your death for His life, your sin for His holiness. Compare that gift against all other gifts you give and receive this holiday season.

Then, hear the words of the angel.  He is speaking to you. "To you is born in the city of David, a Savior, Christ the Lord!"  Contemplate these words; think about these things in your heart, just as His virgin mother did.  Read the Word of God as found in the Bible.  Worship Him in His presence and the gates of heaven will open up for you. God is the One who registers your name in His book of life. And the price for your room is paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Jesus tells you, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Therefore take comfort this night knowing that there is room for you in Heaven.   In Jesus Name, Amen.