In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.
Luke 2:1-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Preparing for the birth of a child is usually a joyous time in the life of a family. Gifts are showered to provide for the baby's needs. Nurseries are decorated and a bag is packed and ready for when the time of delivery comes. Required to travel very late in her pregnancy, Mary would give birth on the road. There would be no ideal place for the Son of God to be born. Makes one wonder what God thinks of all the fanfare we go through when He blesses us with new life in our families, doesn't it?
There was no room available at the inn. This meant they were all occupied by other people. Other people who did not care to share the warmth and comfort of their lodgings with a woman in labor about to give birth. As we cling tightly to our joy and happiness to the extent we ignore the obvious needs of those less fortunate, we need to remember what happened when our Savior was born. If we claim to love Jesus, we had better be careful not to turn Him away at the door if He comes asking for our help.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45 NIV
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