And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. - ESV Luke 2:6-7
We learn a very valuable life lesson here in this passage don't we? God is always in control. Always.
Many who mock the Bible are quick to ask questions like: Why would God who rules the world and is in control use an empire-wide census to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, only to forget or ignore to give them a room there?
He surely could have seen to it that a room was available in the inn? Right?
Yes, he could have. And Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family, by he was not.
He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness. But he choose not to give into temptation.
He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane. But there was a greater purpose.
He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. He would have proved who He was.
The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do.
God’s will was that even though Christ was rich, for our sake He became poor.
The “No Vacancy” signs that hung over all the motels in Bethlehem were for your sake, not His.
“For yoursake he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
I believe that God rules all things — even motel capacities — for the sake of his children. There is a lesson to be learned here. Isn't there always?
The road to Calvary begins with a “No Vacancy” sign in Bethlehem but that is not where the story ends! They story continues and takes many unexpected twist. This Gospel story ends with the great climax of mankind spitting and scoffing the cross in Jerusalem.
And we must not forget that the one who hung between heaven and earth that day said, “He who would come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Follow him? Into rejection? Follow him into pain and heartache? Follow Him into mockery? Yes. As we join him on the Calvary road and hear him say, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (John 15:20).
To the person who calls out enthusiastically, “I will follow you wherever you go!” Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
A sober reminder for the child of God today.
Yes, God could have seen to it that Jesus have a room at his birth.
But that would have been a detour off the Calvary road.
