2 Days to Christmas. Wednesday, Dec 23, 2020

“The Innkeeper”

The “Innkeeper” is one of the interesting characters of the Christmas story. The Innkeeper is the person who turns Joseph and Mary away in their time of need. Some folks think that the innkeeper provided the Holy Family with a stable as an overflow option. Other people think that the Innkeeper sent them away empty-handed, making the family fend for itself on that first Christmas. Whatever your belief, most of us agree that the Innkeeper was rather selfish. It would seem, that, upon seeing this very, very pregnant woman, the Innkeeper could’ve somehow made room for them. Right?

Since we are reading this story two thousand years after it occurred, we are able to arrive at our own conclusion about the events of the Christmas Story. As such, most of us can probably think of several ways that the Innkeeper could’ve (and should’ve) helped Joseph and Mary. We don’t even need all the details to arrive at our conclusion, because the details don’t matter. What matters is that God’s people needed help and the Innkeeper turned them away.

Here’s a little Christmas food for thought from two different perspectives:

Scenario 1: Consider a complete stranger showing up on the doorstep on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Or, if you prefer, pick your own day and time for the stranger to appear, as long as the day and time are very inconvenient. How do you respond?

Scenario 2 (a metaphor): What if God arrives, knocking on the door to your heart on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Or, if you prefer, pick your own day and time for God to appear, as long as the day and time are terribly inconvenient. How do you respond?

In either scenario, I feel like a lump of coal. Here I am making the Innkeeper out to be the “bad guy”, and the whole time, I’m turning away STRANGERS IN NEED and turning God away WHEN I NEED (and probably asked for) the help.

We are about to arrive on the doorstep of Christmas. We’re gonna’ knock on the door and hope that Christmas will fulfill our request. What will we ask for? Hmmm. More Christmas food for thought.

“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24, NKJV)