No Room in the Inn
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 12/25/2016 AM (Christmas Day) |
Text: | Luke 2:7 |
Psalters: | 112, 53, 243, 199 |
- The facts.
- Joseph and Mary travelled by foot about 70 miles over difficult paths with her being heavy with child.
- The birth and setting are unusual and strange in three important ways.
- God determined that Mary would be delivered of her first-born son in the lowliest of circumstances.
- First, that the Baby was born in Bethlehem, not at home in Nazareth.
- Second, the poverty.
- The circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth are a “sign” (12).
- Faith uses the revelation of God in Scripture to help us understand the significance.
- First, the timing is right, for it is “the fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4).
- Mary brought forth “her firstborn son.”
- That Jesus was Mary’s firstborn as a virgin indicates that this child is also the Son of God.
- Mary’s firstborn son means that He is the very Son of God made flesh – the miracle of all miracles.
- He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger (in an animal shelter), for there was no room for Him.
- This signifies what kind of King Jesus is: spiritual and heavenly, not an earthly king.
- This signifies what kind of people we are; He became poor for our sakes (II Cor. 8:9).