“The Unopened Gift”
Christmas Eve 2023
Luke 2:1-7 “About this time Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, decreed that a census (an official count or survey of a population) should be taken throughout the nation….3 Everyone was required to return to his ancestral home for this registration. 4 And because Joseph was a member of the royal line, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home—journeying there from the Galilean village of Nazareth. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.”
Here we see that God used what looked like a normal event—a government count of the population—to fulfill Bible prophecy.
For the Prophet Micah had prophesied 700 years before Jesus’ birth that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
“O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!”
So God used a simple census to bring Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem—an 80 mile journey, mere hours before Christ was born!
And because of the overcrowding of the city due to the census, there was no room for them in the inn.
But….Since God was guiding all of these events, it is no mistake that Mary and Joseph found no room for them in their hour of great need.
Because it was a picture of how Jesus would be treated from His birth to His death.
The world He was born into did not receive Him—there was no room for Him in the hearts and lives of most.
Isaiah the Prophet saw how He would be treated and wrote:
“We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care” (Is. 53:3).
The Apostle John wrote, “Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him.” (John 1:11-12)
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And it’s the same today.
How few in our world make room for Jesus!
We have incrementally edged Him out of just about everything!
—There’s no room for Him in our schools:
The Supreme Court outlawed school prayer in 1962.
They outlawed Bible reading in schools in 1963.
—There’s no room for Him in school sporting events!
If a coach dares to lead his team in a prayer he is swiftly attacked by organizations like the ACLU and ordered to cease.
—There’s no room for Jesus in our government.
Did you know that in several states in America it is now illegal to pray in Jesus’ name before a city counsel meeting.
You cannot use His name!—It is outlawed.
And to invoke the name of Jesus in any officially sanctioned government gathering is frowned upon.
Keep it DIVERSE, we’re told!
No room for Jesus.
Even at Christmas time there’s no room for Jesus.
Department stores now wish you a Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas.
One comedienne recently said on a late-night show that she was reported to Human Resources last year for saying “Merry Christmas” to an intern!
We talk about Santa, and reindeers, throw parties, feast on Turkey, go looking at Christmas lights, and visit family.
But the reason for the season is discreetly swept under the rug and marginalized.
No room for Him even on His own birthday!
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And many, including Christians, find no room for Jesus in the midst of a busy life.
Busyness crowds Him out of our lives just as He warned in His parable of the sower:
“The cares of this life and the longing for material things choke out God’s Word (Jesus), and he does less and less for God.”—Matt 13:22
Recent surveys have found that, whereas people used to go to church every Sunday without fail, now they attend once or twice a month if at all.
The reason? Just too busy!
No room for Jesus, even amongst many who claim His name.
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Now, think for a moment what the Bethlehem Hotel lost by not making room for Jesus.
1. The incarnate God, God in human form, God come to earth, would have been born there! So they missed a miracle birth!
2. The fame of that place would have gone far and wide.
3. That very morning they would have experienced the visit of shepherds in search of the new baby due to an angelic visitation telling them of him.
4. Rather than a manger, the angels would have directed the shepherds to the Bethlehem inn instead—All of heaven would have been focused on that hotel! What an honor!
5. And certainly God would have richly blessed the place that made room for His Son to be born.
But no one discerned what God was doing.
No one cared much that Mary and Joseph were forced out back with the dirty cattle to give birth without a doctor or a midwife to help.
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And it’s true for us today as well.
When we fail to make room for Jesus in our hearts, we miss a miracle birth!
The Bible says, “When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17)
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When we find no room for Jesus, we miss out on many blessings God gives to those that invite Him in.
“See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children—think of it—and we really are!”—1 John 3:1.
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God has given the world the greatest gift ever given, and most people don’t accept it by placing their faith in Christ for salvation!
I have a challenge:
In the coming New Year, let’s resolve to make room for Jesus each and every day by prioritizing Him into our schedule and our lives!
And if you’ve never made room for Him in your own life and heart, you can do so tonight.