“And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”–Luke 2:6–7
Though Bethlehem was just a small village, a few miles away from Jerusalem, it had a large place in Israel’s history because it was the boyhood home of the great King David. As a result, when the Roman order was given for people to return to their ancestral home to register for the census, the town of Bethlehem quickly filled up. Those who had close relatives there undoubtedly stayed with them, and those who did not took every room in what was apparently the only inn in town where visitors could find lodging.
By the time Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, there were no rooms available, so despite the fact that Mary was about to give birth, they had to settle for staying with the animals in a nearby stable. That is why on His first night on Earth, the very King of Heaven, the Lord of Glory, the Son of God was carefully wrapped and placed into a feeding trough for animals.
This would not be the last time the world would have no place for Jesus. During His ministry, Jesus was often rejected. He warned one potential follower of what to expect if he were to follow Him: “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). This lack of room for Jesus is easily seen in our day, and we must be on guard to make certain that He is the center of our lives.(Paul Chappell)
