“Our Father’s only Son became flesh and made His dwelling
among us." ~ John 1:14
Twas the biggest night of the year
- the night of the annual Christmas pageant.
It was a really big deal for the children who auditioned for various
roles in the Christmas story.
Owen wanted to be in the play, too, but he was … well, a
slow learner – a sweet, gentle boy of below average intelligence. The director was hesitant. She knew Owen would be crushed if he didn't
have a part, but she was afraid he might flub the pageant’s magic moment.
So, she cast Owen as the innkeeper - the one who turns Mary
and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born.
He would have only one simple line, but no one could imagine what that
single line would inspire for everyone's Christmas.
It was a magical night; the church was packed. The Christmas story unfolded as rehearsed - Angels
singing, Joseph's dream, and the trip to Bethlehem. Finally, Joseph and Mary arrived at the Inn’s
door; travel-weary and exhausted. Joseph
knocked on the Inn’s door, and Owen opened it on cue.
"Do you have a room for the night?" Joseph
inquired humbly.
Owen flushed; the kind of blushing that reveals the soul, a
sort of compliment to its delicate innocence within. He took a deep breath before muttering his
line: “I'm sorry - we have no room."
After a little coaching, he shut the door. The director heaved a sigh of relief -
prematurely.
Discouraged, Mary and Joseph walked away as coached. Owen let out a huge sigh from behind the
closed door; loud enough to be amplified throughout the sanctuary by the
hard-of-hearing sound engineer. The door
opened.
Owen reappeared!
Then, in an unrehearsed moment that patrons would not soon forget, Owen
ran after the young couple, yelling assuredly: "Wait! Don't go Joseph. Please come back! You can have MY room!"
The crowd went silent.
Owen’s misinterpretation was pure genius; so splendid, so profound as to
have no parallel. As if the Truth had
been delivered by God Himself through the purity of a child.
Owen may have understood the true Christmas message better
than any of the patrons that night. How
can you leave Jesus outside? You have to
make room for the Son of God this Christmas.
Jesus traded His Heavenly palace for a stable, and the
praise of angels for human mockery. He’s
at YOUR door this Christmas. Maybe He's
been knocking for a long time.
All your life - even the events of the last few months -
have been to prepare you for this moment with Jesus. Don't leave Him outside any longer. Open the door this Christmas season. Let Him have room in our heart, in your life.
Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God,
that You came to earth to rescue me from my sins. Restore me, come reign in my heart, fill me
with Your love and help me to become more like You. Amen
