Let Down | Missing What Matters Most

Scripture Focus: Luke 2:1-7

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:1-7, NIV)

There was no room for them in the inn. We've heard this line so many times that we might miss how tragic it really is. A young woman, nine months pregnant, traveling for days on dusty roads, arrives in a crowded town with nowhere to stay. And when they finally find someone who might have space, the answer is no. We're full. We don't have room.

But here's what we need to understand about that innkeeper. He wasn't a bad person. He wasn't cruel or heartless. He was just...busy. Really busy.

Think about what was happening in Bethlehem that week. Because of the census, everyone who had family ties to this little town had to return home to register. And that meant the innkeeper – who probably hadn't had more than a few guests at a time in years – was suddenly overwhelmed with people needing a place to stay.

So when Mary and Joseph knocked on his door, he was exhausted. He'd been checking people in all day. Carrying bags. Cooking meals. Dealing with complaints. He was running from task to task, trying to keep up with the demands of all his guests.

And then here comes one more knock at the door. One more couple needing a room. One more thing to add to his already impossible list.

So the innkeeper does what any of us would do when we're overwhelmed and exhausted. He gives them the quickest solution he can think of and gets back to work. "Sorry, we're full. But you could stay out back with the animals if you're desperate."

And just like that, he misses the most important moment of his life. The Messiah – the one he'd heard about his whole life, the one every Jewish person had been waiting for – was born in his stable while he was too busy to even notice.

Can you imagine how he must have felt when he found out? Maybe it was the next morning. Maybe it was weeks later. But at some point, he heard the whole story. And in that moment, he must have realized what his busyness had cost him.

We do the same thing. Not with Jesus' birth, obviously. But with Jesus himself. We get so busy with all the things we think we have to do that we miss what's happening right in front of us. We miss the opportunities to experience Jesus because we're too focused on our to-do lists.

And here's what makes this even more heartbreaking...the innkeeper could’ve made room. He had space. Not the best space, not the most comfortable space, but he had somewhere Jesus could be born. And if the innkeeper had known who was standing at his door, I'm convinced he would’ve made it work. He would’ve kicked someone else out of a room. He would’ve given up his own bed. He would’ve done whatever it took to make room for Jesus.

But because he was too busy to really see who was standing in front of him, he missed his chance.

The same thing happens to us at Christmas. We get so busy that we don't really see what's right in front of us. We don't see Jesus waiting for us to make room for him in our lives. And before we know it, Christmas has come and gone, and we missed what mattered most.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is this: Are we making room for Jesus this Christmas? Or are we too busy?

Reflection Questions:

• When have you been so busy that you missed something important?

• What would need to change in your schedule to make room for Jesus this week?

• If Jesus showed up at your door today, would you have room for him?

  
  

Prayer: Jesus, we don't want to be like that innkeeper. We don't want to be so busy that we miss you. Help us to make room in our lives for you this Christmas season. Show us what we need to let go of, what we need to say no to, so that we can say yes to you. Forgive us for the times we've been too busy to notice you. Give us eyes to see you and hearts willing to make space for you. Amen.