No Room

As the weary couple arrives in Bethlehem, there is no family or friends willing to help them. Everywhere they turn, they are turned away. They must find shelter quick… Mary is feeling the pangs of labor…

Today's Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 8:9, from the King James Version.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that by his poverty he could make
you rich. Second Corinthians eight nine. Dear Lord Jesus, you
displayed ultimate humility by leaving the glory of heaven to
dwell among us. Although all power, glory, and praise was

(00:25):
due to you, you humbled yourself and died on a
cross so that we might experience freedom and the riches
of your glorious grace. During this Christmas season, when gifts
and glamor are on full display, inspire us to walk

(00:46):
in humility. May we model your mindset of unconditional love, sacrifice,
and lowliness for the sake of others. When pride seeks
to grip our hearts and graggistown, correct us with your
spirit and push us forward toward righteousness. We pray these

(01:09):
things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
The city of Bethlehem lay just ahead, its walls glowing
with the amber hue of a thousand lanterns. Mary and
Joseph felt both relief and a growing tension. With each step,
A new sensation grew within Mary, a tightening, a quickening
that told her time was of the essence Joseph, She whispered,

(01:39):
her voice catching with both wonder and fear. He's coming.
Joseph's face lost its color. His gaze met hers were
almost there. He gripped the reins of the donkey and
led them down the final switchbacks leading down to the
city gates. Campsites laced the vacant area surrounding the city.
The senses had rooted everyone. Roman soldiers marched in and

(02:03):
out of the gates in groups of ten to twenty.
It seemed like they were searching for something or someone.
Their prisons made Joseph nervous.

Speaker 3 (02:15):
We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and
of your podcast today. The Bible and of Your Podcast
is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come
to you each week through the support of listeners just
like you. Your support today is so important that we
want to thank you for your gift by giving you
a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. It

(02:35):
is a powerful guide that shows how every book of
the Bible points to Jesus and how his living word,
the truth of God's Word, will transform your life. So
to get a copy of The Jesus Book, simply go
to Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham
dot org slash Jesus and thank you for your support.

(02:58):
It's Christmas Eve. Our Nativity story is ramping up to
the glorious arrival of Christ. Mary and Joseph have endured ridicule, robbery,
and storms to arrive at Bethlehem. Now, just as the
city comes into view, Mary's experiencing the pangs of childbirth.

(03:19):
Joseph and Mary require some hospitality. Will they find it?
This episode will explore themes of hospitality and compassion for
those in need. Mary and Joseph are vulnerable and at
the mercy of the people around them. If they don't
find shelter soon, Mary will have to give birth on

(03:40):
the streets. Hospitality and compassion reflect the character of Christ.
Our faith is shown in how we treat people who
are vulnerable and in need. The Nativity Story illustrates that
God's providence will always come through even when we feel
lost and without help. His providence doesn't always look like

(04:04):
parted seas or fire from heaven. Sometimes it's a small
act of generosity from a stranger. Afterward, will come together
to unpack these timeless Christmas themes.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
The streets of Bethlehem were a chaotic smattering of voices, noises,
and scents. The city was alive everywhere they looked, With
travelers and traders gathered for the senses. It became apparent
that finding a quiet space in the city would be
a nearly impossible task. Mary Winston pain her breaths becoming

(04:38):
more labored.

Speaker 1 (04:39):
Joseph, how we need to find somewhere to rest.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
I think he's coming soon. I have distant relatives here,
Joseph said, trying to hold back his panic. This way,
they quickened their pace towards the group of homes tucked
away on the city's outskirts. A vast and open pasture
was behind the property, the very same hills were David
once strummed his heart beside his grazing sheep. Joseph knocked

(05:04):
on the door. Jepter, he said, frantically, it's Joseph, Please
open the door. An older, portly man opened the door.
Behind him were dozens of Joseph's distant relatives from far
and wide. Eh, Joseph, he said, with a furrowed brow.
I was wondering if I'd see you here. There's no
room for you Jepifer, Please my wife, she is with child.

(05:28):
I know your wife is pregnant. Joseph, we all know
the man sneered. We all heard about the woman you married.
It's a disgrace to your father, my cousin. I won't
condone it by letting you remain here another minute. With
those final insults, he slammed the door in Joseph's face.
Joseph paused for a long while, words of anger and

(05:49):
frustration dangling on his lips. He looked back at Mary.
She was in pain, straining for each breath. They needed
a safe place now. Time was slipping through their fingers
like grains of sand. Mary's contractions grew more insistent, her
pain constant reminder of their urgent need. Joseph, driven by

(06:12):
a blend of fear and determination, knocked on door after door.
Can anybody help us? He shouted, Please, my wife is
in labor. His pleas were met with nothing but awkward
apologies or cold rejections. The night grew darker, and their
hope waned a flickering candle in the relentless wind. But then,

(06:33):
as if guided by a hand unseen, they found themselves
before an inn, its warm glow a beacon in the
dark night. Joseph urgently picked Mary up and hurried down
the lane to the inn. Please help us, someone, Please,
we beg for mercy, he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.

(06:53):
Joseph's forehead met the heavy wooden door of the inn
with a thud, all the while keeping Mary secure in
his embrace. No response came. Laughter and the clinking of
glasses echoed from within. He raised his voice, bellowing, please, anyone.
Silence was the only reply. With Merry tenderly held in

(07:15):
his arms, Joseph reeled back and delivered a powerful kick
to the door. It burst open, yet still failed to
catch the attention of anyone inside. Only then did he
understand why his call had gone unanswered. The inn was
overflowing with patrons, so parked that there was hardly room
to move, let alone notice a cry from outside. Joseph's

(07:38):
eyes found the innkeeper, busy clearing cups in a corner. Innkeeper, innkeeper,
he yelled, finally catching his attention. The innkeeper was a
disheveled man, his gray hair unkempt, his round face flushed
from the heat. Oh filled to capacity, sir, as you
can plainly see. His voice trailed off as his eyes

(07:59):
met the tears streaked face of the pregnant Mary. Show
compassion upon us. Mary exhaled, my baby is coming soon.
The Innkeeper's face creased with worry as he ran his
fingers through his beard. My own room is taken. Even
my wife and I have nowhere to lay our own heads.
Now you see his voice filled with sorrow. I wish

(08:21):
I had more to offer, but we have no space.
Certainly not a proper place for your particular needs. His
eyes flickered down the hill behind the inn. But Dern
might be a spot I can show you. Hurry follow me.
Joseph helped Mary on to the donkey, and they found
the innkeeper down a narrow, twisting path to a cave

(08:44):
like enclosure in the hillside where the animals were kept.
The sun was sinking, and Mary's agony intensified. The innkeeper
hung a lantern, casting a soft glow over the stable.
Mary's cries grew louder, her pain more acute. The birth
drawing near a I regret that this is all I
can provide, the innkeeper said, his voice low. Joseph simply

(09:08):
nodded his thanks, His focus solely on Mary. Mary looked around.
After the journey she had just endured. She was about
to give birth in a stable carved from a hill.
This was the stage for a moment of divine significance.
Amidst the hay and the gentle lowing of animals, Mary
prepared herself. In the cool evening air, she whispered softly to.

Speaker 1 (09:31):
The Lord, I am your servant.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
In that moment, the veil between the worldly and the
divine was paper thin. Outside the world continued its restless dance,
but time seemed to pause within the stable's walls. Above
the stable, unnoticed by the city's throng, a star shone
with a brilliance that seemed to pierce the very fabric

(09:54):
of the night. Its light, a herald of a new era,
cast a gentle glow over the stage where the child
of Promise was about to be born.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem was filled with obstacles.
You'd think that arriving in Bethlehem would be the easiest part,
but just as they reached their destination, tension rows doors
were shutting their faces around every corner. Even Joseph's family
rejected him there's a theological precedent for including Joseph's family

(10:28):
in this story. Luke chapter two tells us simply that
there was no room in the inn, but that could
be taken to mean several things. Some scholars believe it
was an all encompassing term. They were refused hospitality. In
Christ's day, hospitality to visitors among the Jews was essential,

(10:48):
based on biblical examples and law. In Deuteronomy chapter ten,
verse nineteen, God told Israel to love the stranger, and
Leviticus chapter nineteen, verse thirty three states if a stranger
dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.
Denial of hospitality was shown throughout scripture as an outrage

(11:10):
unless it was established as a sign of disowning that
family member. Even from the very start of his life,
Jesus had nowhere to lay his head. This situation was
not by chance, but rather a symbolic representation of his
complete identification with the oppressed, vulnerable, the rejected, underprivileged, and

(11:31):
the poor. When God took human form, he sought none
of the worldly comforts, luxuries, or protections many hold. Dear
God knew that throughout time, lonely and homeless people from
all corners of the globe would gaze at the stars,
shivering in the cold, and cry, God, you can't possibly

(11:52):
understand what I'm experiencing. To this, Jesus can respond with
truth and compassion. Actually, I know exactly what you're enduring.
The rejection by the people of Bethlehem serves as a
painful reminder that judgment and scorn can cause us to
close our doors to those in desperate meed. May we

(12:16):
never fall into the same trap. Hebrews chapter thirteen, verse
two tells us not to forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for some have unwittingly hosted angels. God is at work
in the margins of compassion and generosity. There is no
way to predict the ripple effects of your kindness. For

(12:39):
Mary and Joseph, one act of kindness is all they
needed to usher in the Son of God. The compassionate
innkeeper shines a light on the loving character of Christ.
Though he had no room, he did what he could
to provide a place for the Savior to be born.
His actions reflect Christ's teaching in Matthew chapter twenty five,

(13:00):
verses thirty five through forty, where Jesus says, I was
a stranger, and you welcomed me. Despite their dire circumstances,
God's hand was evident throughout their journey. The stable, humble
though it was, became a holy place. Here Jesus Christ,

(13:21):
the King of Kings, was born in simplicity and humility.
Tomorrow's Christmas, and no doubt many of you will reflect
on why Jesus came in the way he did. Why
was he born in a stable? Why was he born
into a family with little resources and status. It's simple.

(13:42):
God chose the path of humility so we might have
hope in any circumstance. We do not have a God
that doesn't sympathize with our struggles and needs, as it
says in Hebrews four, verse fifteen. For we did not
have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with

(14:04):
our weaknesses, but one who, in every respect has been
tempted as we are. Yet without sin, Jesus knew what
it was like to come from nothing, to suffer to work.
Some of you may feel alone, rejected, and misunderstood, like

(14:24):
Mary and Joseph, Know that Jesus understands you, he loves you,
and He's provided a place for you to call home
the Kingdom of God. Join us for our next episode
as we behold the glory of Christ's birth in the
most humble of circumstances, the Son of God will be born.

(14:47):
I'm excited to unwrap the glorious gift of Christmas with you.
Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast,
And before we go, I wanted to let you know
that the Bible in a Year podcast is outreach of
PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each week
through the support of listeners like you. Your support today

(15:09):
is so important that we want to thank you for
your gift by giving you a copy of my book
called The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful guide
that shows how every book in the Bible points to Christ,
and how you can better read and understand the Bible
and how God's Word transforms our lives. So to get
your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go to Jaggraham

(15:31):
dot org slash Jesus. That's Jaggraham dot org slash Jesus
and thank you for your support.