+DEV+ The Townsfolk: Innkeeper

Date: December 27, 2011 12:20 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The Townsfolk: Innkeeper

The Townsfolk: Innkeeper

"In my Father's house are many rooms...I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). "...there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7b).
Scripture Focus: John 14:1-4

With the Roman Empire inventorying the population, Joseph left Nazareth and returned to Bethlehem, his hometown. Why did he and Mary find no assistance from other family members who might have been there? Perhaps the shame of Mary's pregnancy still burned. Maybe their nighttime arrival in Bethlehem made finding relatives difficult. Or possibly the baby's insistence on coming presented too much urgency. Whatever the case, dear Joseph sought lodgings for Mary. From that course of events, we have conjured "the innkeeper."

Not only does he (she?) have no lines recorded in Scripture, he is not even in Scripture! The one word we have dared assign this character is "No." Joseph may have wondered, "Would he knowingly turn away the Messiah?" Though the expectant parents did not understand the governing grace of God's plan that night, we can assume that somehow a person at the inn denied their request for a room.

"No room." Those words ring an eerie echo in our ears. Is there room in our hearts for the Savior?

Insight: "O, come to my heart, Lord Jesus! There is room in my heart for Thee" (Emily E. Elliot, 1864).