Luke 2:7
(Second Advent Candle : The Bethlehem Candle)
Can you imagine having traveled the treacherous and dusty roads from
Nazareth to Jerusalem on the back off a donkey, and being nine months
pregnant at the same time? How relieved you would be to finally reach
your destination, to climb down from the donkey, and find a place to
rest your weary body while you prepared to give birth! Now imagine
hearing these words when you finally did arrive:
"'No rooms are available in my inn, and the rest of the town seems to
be filled up as well. It is late. If only you had arrived a bit
earlier,' the innkeeper told them. 'I am sorry,' he said, hanging his
head because he sensed their great need, seeing that the woman was
clearly in labor and about to give birth to a child.
Fear and anxiety surely flooded Mary's soul. 'How could this be? No
rooms? No room for the mother of the Messiah who would be born soon?'
The questions seemed to flood Mary's thoughts as she considered this
part of the plans of the God who had brought about so great a miracle as
her immaculate conception. But Mary's thoughts were quickly
interrupted by the voice of the owner of the inn, and her heart was at
once put to rest. At least she would not be without some shelter.
'Sir, you must be exhausted from your journey, and your wife looks to
be suffering greatly with labor. I know it is not much, but it is the
only thing I have left to offer you. In the back of my inn there is a
humble stable, and it is empty right now. I know how filthy it is, and I
do not wish to insult you. I know it is not a suitable place for the
birth of a baby, but there is fresh hay there, and water nearby. It
will at least be very private. Please, use it if you would like.' With
no other options the nervous Joseph accepted the kind offer.
The only light in the darkness of the dirty stable came from a lantern
hanging in the corner. As Mary labored to bring her baby into the
world, Joseph stood close by, feeling helpless at times, and fetching a
cool cloth for her forehead as she needed it. Their prayers for help
and safety reached their God, and in the fullness of time, Jesus, the
Light of the world, entered the very world He had been sent to by the
Father.
If one would have been allowed to watch those world changing events,
one thing would have surely been noticed. Only one thing would have
surely been noticeably different in that rickety old stable. Yes, the
dim light of the lantern would still be flickering in the night, but
something new has come. A panoramic view would reveal the change that
had come. It is that tiny infant that Mary laid in the fresh straw in
the feeding trough. It is Jesus and the heavenly and spiritual light
that is emanating from Him!
That is what happens to one who is touched by the love of Jesus. Our
Savior looks down from His heavenly throne into the dark hearts of
mankind. When He sees a heart that is looking for Him, He comes into
that sin-darkened heart, and the Light of His presence resides there and
begins to emanate out of the new believer. Once our eyes are opened as
the scales of sin begin to fall away, Jesus becomes the Light we need
for our journey through this dark world. He is our Light!
Why did God choose for Jesus to born in a humble, dirty, dark
stable? Because He wanted to show us a picture of Jesus' great desire
to enter our dirty, sin-stained lives and bring us to the light of His
glory. God shows us, through the particular circumstances of the first
Christmas, to what great lengths He will go to rescue us from our very
own dirty, dark 'stables' of sin and darkness.
Take time today to thank Jesus for His humility and love for you.
Thank Him that He is your Light on your journey. And it might be wise
to consider the offering of the innkeeper. The stable was the very last
space he had left to give. What we daily give to Jesus should not be
the leftovers of the day, the last little bit before we fall asleep.
Don't do everything that you have to do today, and then offer Him the
very last place of priority. Begin to get into the practice of giving
Him the best part, the first part, not your leftover 'stables' after all your busy-ness has been carried out. After all, the Christmas celebration is in His honor. Don't forget to invite the Guest of Honor to the party!"
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