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Have you ever had a birthday and wanted someone to throw you a party? You imagined getting a nice present and hinted at what you want. Every time I went out with friends, I expected people to jump out and shout “Happy Birthday!” I was so excited and looking forward to it, but nothing happened. The party was never held. In fact, people seemed to forget your birthday. Even worse, they remembered it but couldn’t recognize it.
Maybe that’s what Christmas is all about. We are supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but we get caught up in the wrong things and forget the birthday of Jesus Christ.
Merchants want you to shop until you’re bored, and shoppers are eager to find every bargain. Did you know that many years ago on Black Friday, a Walmart employee was trampled to death as crowds rushed to collect their meager savings? And in Tennessee, a woman was trampled to death at the entrance of a Toys R Us when it opened. An incident occurred. Thankfully, she survived.
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We all need to relax a little and remember the reason for this season: Jesus. This is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. In the midst of Christmas activities and preparations, how often do we forget about our guest of honor?
We string up lights, prune trees, talk about holidays, listen to recorded songs that mention the birth of Jesus…but how many of us actually take time for Jesus? Are you dividing it? (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
We string up lights, prune trees, talk about holidays, listen to recorded songs that mention the birth of Jesus…but how many of us actually take time for Jesus? Are you making time for Him? When you’re running around the mall and buying things for everyone you know, you can forget to make room in your schedule for Him.
Something similar happened in the 1st century on the first Christmas. There was no room for Jesus.
Mary and Joseph were looking forward to spending time in Nazareth. The day of Mary’s birth drew nearer and nearer. Then suddenly it was announced that everyone needed to be taxed, and for this everyone had to go to their first homeland.
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Since Mary and Joseph were both descendants of King David, they traveled to David’s hometown of Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5). When this announcement was made, they probably thought it would be a huge hassle.
A church procession passes through Bethlehem singing hymns and enters the Church of the Nativity. (Timothy Nerozzi)
Maybe you are wondering. “Why would God want Mary to make the long and difficult journey to Bethlehem so late in her pregnancy?” Well, we know that God is a stickler for details. The Bible says that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, so Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem.
When we think of the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, we can romanticize this in our minds. We imagine a full moon with the silhouettes of Mary and Joseph against a starry sky, with soft angelic music playing in the background.
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But the truth is, it has been a very difficult journey. That would have been difficult under any circumstances, but the fact that Mary’s pregnancy was so late made it even more difficult. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 90 miles.
At that time, people traveled about 20 miles a day. Instead of walking on flat paved roads, we walked on steep terrain with ups and downs. It was probably midwinter, with temperatures in the 30s. The night must have been freezing cold. Add to that the danger of wildlife, not to mention the threat of potential robbers and bandits.
Orthodox priests walk outside the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born on the eve of Orthodox Christmas, in Bethlehem, West Bank, Saturday, January 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Irian)
Mary and Joseph probably consoled themselves with the thought that a warm bed awaited them in Bethlehem. But that wasn’t the case. When they arrive, they discover that the inn does not have a room for them, and Mary is forced to give birth under unexpected and non-ideal circumstances. The Savior of the world may have been born in a stable or a cave (Luke 2:7).
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There was no place for Jesus in the inn, just as there is no place for Jesus in the lives of some people today. And even during the season when he is supposed to be the center of attention, some still don’t make space for him.
As you celebrate Christmas and prepare to enter the new year with new opportunities, will you make room for the Lord in your life?
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