Nougat 26

What would that first Christmas have been like? We don’t really know, except that it was a grand celebration involving the whole creation: animals, plants, heavenly creatures and humans. That must’ve been quite a do! Yet, there’s an underlying simplicity in the celebration that we might miss in His place of birth. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Room for Jesus!

In many cultures, birthing one’s firstborn is significant, especially if the child is a boy. This, as it was believed that the lineage was perpetuated through sons. In that case, Jesus’ birth is significant as He was Mary’s firstborn. She would probably have wanted to have a joyful merry-making. (I make this assumption given that the engagement was back on, and she had consented to bear this Child of God). What she got instead, was a journey to Bethlehem and no room.

Not no room in the clinic or hospital, but no lodging, guesthouse, guest room or Airbnb.

Nada.

Zip.

Nothing.

No vacancy.

That must have been scandalous. Joseph a descendant of David, whose roots were in Bethlehem, could find Zero lodging with his kin! Maybe they’d all relocated. Maybe they wanted nothing to do with this readymade family that was conceived out of wedlock. Maybe inheritance laws died with the Exile, so no immediate family lived in Bethlehem. But as a descendant of David, one could assume that there should be accommodation.

In my mind’s eye, the enemy of our souls must’ve crowned himself victorious in this eternal spiritual battle. For, if Jesus had no place but out in the fields to be born, he would have been extremely vulnerable and easier killed. The infant mortality rate in those days was likely to have been very high (some suggest it was little over 50%, or 6 pregnancies to result in 2 healthy births), so the Messiah’s birth would not create a stir.

But humble though it was, God had a birth spot identified: the animal corral.

Absolutely scandalous!

Yet, it meant that all had access. It may be that rich folk left their animals by the corral and they could easily have gotten to the Christ-child. The poorest of the poor had access; so did the lowest. And though we don’t know when the Magi got to the new family, the Magi found them in Bethlehem. Possibly at the same place. God’s plan included God’s grace, making room for all to have access to Jesus by virtue of the lack of room. And just like that, the enemy of our soul was defeated.

The absence of room for Jesus also invites us to consider whether we are willing to make Him room today. For, He still needs access. And in offering Him room today, have we assigned Jesus to the stables of our hearts or does He have pride of place?

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May all we seek be found in Christ