In Christ's day, hospitality to visitors among the
Jews was essential, based on biblical example and law. In Deuteronomy 10:,
God told the Israelites to “love the stranger.” And Leviticus 19:33 stated,
“If a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.” Denial
of hospitality was shown throughout Scripture to be an outrage. If this is true, how could Joseph and Mary have
been turned away at the inn the night Jesus was born?
Recently, I read an article about the misinterpretation of that night. Here
is an excerpt:
Kenneth Bailey, a Middle
Eastern and New Testament scholar points out in his Bible Study, “The Manger
and the Inn: The Cultural Background of Luke 2:7”
that the translation of the word as 'inn' is a product of our Western heritage.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the Greek word translated
“inn” in the Luke 2 passage is kataluma. It means “a place
of rest” usually a guest room. Inns were places of ill repute and would not
have been sought after or offered to a returning son of the village. Instead, Bailey asserts,
the city of David was true to its own, and the village community provided for
them. Jesus was born among them, in the natural setting of the birth of any
village boy, surrounded by helping hands and encouraging women's voices. For
centuries peasants in Bethlehem have been born on the raised terraces of the
one-room family homes. The birth of Jesus was no different. His incarnation was
authentic but His birth most likely took place in the natural place for a
peasant to be born - in a peasant home.
Does this match what we read in the Bible in
Luke 2?
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (KJV)
In a continuation of the article, Bailey reveals, “After reading a
number of Arabic writings on the question, there is an unspoken subjective
pressure to understand the birth as having taken place without witnesses because
of the sacred nature of the mother of God giving birth to the Son of God. Even
as the sacraments are consecrated in utter seclusion behind an altar screen, so
the eyes of even the faithful might not look on the holy event, even so Middle Eastern
Christology and piety seem to combine to insist that the birth took place where
no eye beheld the divine mystery.”
If Mr. Bailey is
correct in his definition of the “inn”, the customs of the day, and the piety
of no human eye seeing the birth of Jesus - How did we get the picture of a weathered wooden
roof over a stable full of animals and an animal’s food container as a
cradle?
There is yet another authority
on Middle Eastern life, Gustaf Dalmann, noted in the article I read. He states,
In the East today the
dwelling-place of man and beast is often in one and the same room. It is quite
the usual thing among the peasants for the family to live, eat, and sleep on a
kind of raised terrace … in the one room of the house, while the cattle,
particularly donkeys and oxen, have their place below on the actual floor …
near the door; this part sometimes is continued along under the terrace as a
kind of low vault. On this floor the mangers are fixed, either to the floor, or
to the wall, or at the edge of the terrace” with mangers 'hollowed in stone,'
the dais or raised area being reserved for the family. Such a manger being
immovable, filled with crushed straw, would do duty for a cradle. An infant might even
be left in safety, especially if swaddled.
So, knowing all
of this, maybe this is how the story of the Nativity goes… While they
were staying with Joseph’s family awaiting the census, the day came that the
baby should be delivered. Because there was no room to birth
the baby in the guest loft she brought forth her firstborn son surrounded by
the animals in the lower vault. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid
him on the straw in the stone manger.
Now that we
know the story - I can ask these questions…
If you do not
know Jesus and his family, will you consider getting to know the Savior, a
stranger, and greet Him with glad hospitality?
If you do
know Jesus, but it’s been a long time between visits, will you prepare a place
for this family member to come and stay?
If you are well
acquainted with Jesus, has He been pushed into the lower loft of your life or
is there room in your everyday life for Him?
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Click this link to hear this old hymn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-49Z2TY58h8&feature=player_embedded
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Here is the truth… No matter how Jesus came to this
earth or where He was born, He did come and He was born as a Christmas gift to
all of us. We can no longer view the rejection of Jesus as the responsibility of that sleepy old Inn
Keeper. Rejection or acceptance of the
Christmas gift is for each of us to make personally. This choice is one we must make every day. Our modern fast pace lifestyle leave little time for pause. We will have to squeeze in reading the Bible, praying and listening to His voice just like Mary & Joseph had to squeeze into the guest room. And just like God did that night, if you give Him just a little room, He will make it life changing.
Last question: Will you take the time right now to say – “Jesus,
Come to my heart - I have kataluma for you." Continue by clicking this link and pray along as a choir sings a Christmas song to Jesus:
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