Its amazing to see the contrast in some people’s response to Jesus. Sometimes he is met with acceptance and transformation, and other times refusal and rejection.The story of the birth of Christ includes an often unnoticed character: the Innkeeper. Even though we have scant record of his involvement, we have him to blame for the manger scene – as there was apparently no room in the inn! Lets examine the possibilities for how and why this might be.
Innkeeper
- Inconvenient: Adjust his plans
- No Room: Too much else occupying available space
- Costly: Paying customers have priority
- Ignorance: Didn’t know who He was
- Uninterested: Better things to do
- Unwilling to change: Jesus demands too much
Shepherds
- Changed their plans
- Left their valuables behind
- Jesus became their priority
- They had radical understanding
- They shared with excitement
- They were transformed
Matthew 10:32-39
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.