“There was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7) There was very simply no room for the Lord Jesus Christ in the inn. The inn in Bethlehem was most probably the central meeting place in Bethlehem; where people met to exchange local news, dine together or have fun. It was also a place where foreign travelers and passers-by found lodging. Certainly, such a place, where people from all walks of life came in and in the midst of all the noise of the village gossips, was not a suitable for the perfect birth of the baby Lord Jesus…
The Lord Jesus Christ’s birth was set aside from the commonly accepted human cultural norms
We are told neither through the Holy Bible nor through tradition that St Joseph had sent ahead for room reservations at the Bethlehem inn to accommodate the needs of his pregnant wife. St Joseph did not provide silk nor fine woolen garments befitting the baby Lord Jesus in anticipation of His Holy Birth. One might argumentatively say that St Joseph was poor; and that God could have miraculously and instantly produced such. At their faith level, both St Mary and St Joseph must have anticipated God’s intervention and provision for His Son as He desired. However, one might pause to inquire: Were any special preparations made at all for the Prince of Peace, the very Son of God? None. Except for a cave offered to St Mary and St Joseph for the night’s stay.
The Lord Jesus Christ’s birth was set aside from human self-centredness
With St Mary heavily pregnant, one can assume that the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was indeed a very slow one riddled with difficulties, perhaps even travel sickness resulting in frequent stops. Upon arrival, in all likelihood, St Mary must have been tired and certainly worn out. Thus, the need for a place to stay must have been pressing; and the knowledge that there was none at the inn disappointing, devastating and heartbreaking. Greater still must have been the pain at the knowledge that the inn patronage was among King David’s lineage; of blood relation to both St Mary and St Joseph. However, the Holy Bible Nativity narration does not record that any of St Joseph’s extended relatives offered him lodging nor assistance of any sort to the young pregnant wife.
The Lord Jesus Christ birth was set aside from the extended family of King David’s lineage
Nowhere is it proclaimed that St Mary got upset with St Joseph nor cried in despair for not having had a “proper” room at the inn. She did not give heed to people’s gossip as to why she was not provided a place at the inn to deliver her baby. Rather most scholars assume that St Mary was probably grateful for the cave presented to them; and the quietness that the cave potentially was to offer her during the immaculate birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Origen, a pupil of St Clement of Alexandria, writes of the cave near the village of Bethlehem…
Let him know that in conformity with the narrative in the Holy Gospel, regarding His birth, there is displayed at Bethlehem the cave where Jesus was born and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. And this sight is greatly talked of in the surrounding places—even among the enemies of the faith. They say that in this cave was born that Jesus who is worshipped and reverenced by the Christians” (c. 248).
The Lord Jesus Christ’s honourable birth set aside in simplicity and humble quietness
Through a great light, a glorious angel of the Lord announced to some shepherds in the fields keeping watch over their flock, that in the City of David, (Bethlehem), a Savior was born who was Christ the Lord. “And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in a swaddling clothes, lying in a manager” (Luke 2:12).
The faithful devoted shepherds told the Holy Family about the appearance of the Lord’s angel; and how the sky was filled with angels praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill, toward men!” (Luke 2:14).
The Mother of God, St Mary said nothing as she listened and marveled at the things spoken of by the shepherds, but silently in thought and words, kept these things in her heart.
The Lord Jesus Christ’s birth was set aside and made known first to the faithful who with open hearts were praying for His coming
Lying in a manger, the Lord Jesus Christ did not appear rich nor powerful. In the hardness of the manger the baby Lord Jesus Christ began his life of sacrifice and humility. In the manger’s true utilisation, the Lord Jesus Christ was born lowly. In His swaddling clothes, His poverty was evident. The baby’s cradle was simple, hard, lowly, and humble as would later be his life. Yet the cradle bore perfect Peace.
The Lord Jesus Christ’s birth was set aside in the peace that simplicity brings
Those who first witnessed the birth and paid homage, giving their loving and grateful hearts as gifts, would prove to always be those who would draw close to the Lord Jesus Christ and have room for Him within their hearts. Their special gifts and talents would be paralleled with their humility in His service. As the angel proclaimed earlier, they called the Child Jesus meaning “Saviour”. God had become man to save man.
The Lord Jesus Christ’s birth was set aside to save the world
The Child Jesus and his life alike were to be truly set aside in perfection and set apart from those who will not allow Him in their hearts and lives. One either chooses to accept Christ’s saving grace or not to. There’s still no room in the inn for those who desire to live in a “my needs first” society. There’s no room in the inn for those who live a hurried life, in a multi-tasked world with no genuine goals; there is no room in the inn for those who choose to live in a social whirl of events and seasons. There’s still no room in the inn for those who cannot find the time for the Divine Liturgy in their life, scripture reading with meditation, and prayer.
We must continually guard against the worldly beckoning, earthly desires; and pace ourselves with fasting, and spiritual preparation, while opening our hearts and lives to the humility, the love, the peace and the purity of the Lord Jesus Christ. His Holy Birth should always find room in our hearts.
I pray that this Holy Season of the Glorious Nativity fill our hearts with the love and peace the Lord Jesus Christ was born to bring unto us all.
Bless the Lord, O you servants of the Lord, Praise Him and exalt Him above all forever
His Grace Bishop Youssef is Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States (www.suscopts.org)
