Sermon Christmas Day
No room at the inn – plenty of room in God’s heart
Christmas is an occasion that brings families
together. And maybe you’ve been the host trying to fit everyone in to save the
expense of a motel. I know we’ve had situations where we’ve had the fold out
sofa bed along with mattresses on the floor to try and accommodate family and
friends. That’s what it’s like when families gather, the house overflows with
people, and we make room.
Unfortunately for Mary and Joseph they didn’t have
family put them up even though they had travelled to the town of their family
of origin to register for the upcoming census. Maybe it was because word had
gotten around about Mary being pregnant before she was married and that there
were questions of paternity. But for Mary and Joseph there is further dilemma
as Luke’s gospel tells us that Mary, “gave birth to her firstborn son and
wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn – or what we would call today a motel.
How sad that the saviour of the world is born in a
stable with no bed but a manger, which sounds sweet when we sing “away in a
manger” but it’s just another word for a feed box for the animals. Where was
their family? Bethlehem was Joseph’s
ancestral home and most likely Mary’s. If
Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, so would have his brother and sisters, father
and mother. Surely some were still alive. Surely one of them could make room for Joseph
and pregnant Mary. Anything would have been better than giving birth in a
stable and having the new born baby sleeping in a feed box. They probably all
had reason why they could not invite Mary, Joseph and Jesus into their homes.
As sad and as unusual as this sounds, sadly it
still continues today, well for Jesus.There are still so many people –
including people celebrating Christmas today that have no room for Jesus amid
all the celebration. There are many who don’t realise that Christmas has the
word Christ in it. Life is so hectic that there’s not much room for many extra
things in our lives. Even faithful and loyal Christians can often feel quite
guilty about their relationship with God because we don’t make room for him in
our busy lives.
But have a look at what the Christmas message tells
us. There was no room at the inn for Jesus but that didn’t stop God’s plan. Jesus
was born, nonetheless. God took advantage of what was available rather than
condemning what was not available. As John 3:17 tells us – God did not send his
son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. And
nothing would stop God’s plan from eventuating – whether it be “no room at the
inn” or later when Herod sends out a decree to kill all infant boys in the hope
of including Jesus among the dead children.
Likewise we need to remember that Christmas is
about God coming to us in Jesus. And when we don’t have time or make room for
Jesus – God always has time and room for us. For those who don’t have room in
their heart for Jesus we remember that Jesus always has room in his heart for
them. For God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only son to us.
As we remember this past Advent season –
Christmas is a time of HOPE – And St Paul says that
hope will never disappoint us.
Christmas is a time of PEACE – a peace that St Paul
says goes beyond our understanding. As the world around us seems to be filled
with war, crime, violence and other catastrophes, Jesus says - Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not
let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Christmas is a time of JOY – that even when the
weight of the world comes crashing down around us, St Paul says that we can
still “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
And Christmas is a time of LOVE But as I mentioned
earlier, it’s not a love that is dependent on our love but as St John says: This
is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son – which
really sums up the true Christmas spirit.
Christmas is truly a special time of the year that
brings so much hope in our very challenging world. But we also need to remember
that for many Christmas evokes different emotions. Those who are financially
strained to be able to buy gifts for their children. Those who are grieving the
loss of a loved one this Christmas – perhaps their first Christmas alone. Those
who experience Christmas alone every year – who rely on soup kitchens for their
fellowship and Christmas meal. Jesus has them also in his heart as he began his
very life in the same way – alone – rejected.
But God brought Shepherds from the field – wise men
from the East – angels from heaven even when the world rejected him. And he
made a very solemn promise to us all – including the lost and lonely – “he will
be called – Emmanuel – God is with us. May God be with you this Christmas as we
again celebrate the amazing gift of God’s love to us in a baby born in a manger
and each of our hearts today.