Squeeze in Tighter

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn (guestroom).”
– Luke 2:7

What would you think if I told you that our typical depiction of the scene above is wrong/historically inaccurate?  Most of the time, the assumption is that Mary and Joseph had to lay down in a faraway barn because there was no room in the tavern-style guest house.  If Jesus was a Medieval European peasant, this likely would be true.  Europeans typically kept their animals in their own separate building or in a lower level of the house (think walkout basement).  When people traveled from town to town, the travelers would find an establishment where someone ran a business renting out rooms to strangers and serving them food in the tavern.  But Jesus was a first-century Palestinian, not a Medieval peasant.In ancient Judea, families would not keep their animals in a separate building.  Rather, families would build one big room that included a kitchen, eating area, sleeping area, and animal pen.  A short wall would subdivide the room to keep animals like sheep or goats out of the humans' living area.  Built into this low wall was the manger for food and a trough for water.  “But what about the guest room?!”  The term in Greek that is used implies a spare bedroom built on top of the flat roof of the house.  Ancient Judean custom would hold that Joseph would be welcomed into any home as family as long as he could recite his family heritage.  Only true outsiders with no shared family lineage would be forced to rent a room from a businessperson.

Thus, Jesus was not born “Away in a Manger,” but on the living room floor.  Jesus would have been surrounded by aunties and grandmas in a crowded house.  While some derive meaning from Jesus being born far away from the chaos of humanity with only the animals to attend to him, I have always found it much more impactful to imagine a family having to squeeze in tighter to make room for Jesus in the chaos of life.

In this spirit of Christmas, I told our neighbors at Oakland University's Music Department that we could squeeze in a bit tighter and make sure that they have a home for some of their end-of-semester music lessons, practices, and recitals.  This includes the Oakland University String Department Student Recital at 5:00p.m. in the Sanctuary this Friday.  They have extended an invitation to our community to attend this performance for anyone desiring a bit more music in their life.

Saying yes to letting OU using our space was a matter of principal and theology for me.  Not only are we in a season where we celebrate a story where the world makes room when a family is in need, but this kind of request also brings up the question of, “why have a building at all?”  Theoretically, we don’t need a building in order to hold a service and continue our ministry; but the building is a tool for our ministry.  It is helpful for our ministry to have a place to gather (and to store our stuff).  However, sharing good news with the community implies a willingness to share our resources and tools for the betterment of the wider community.  And if we are not willing to make space and share our resources in a time of community need, then we are not stepping up to the calling of sharing the good news.

So, let us welcome our neighbors in need and make room in our crowded life for the coming of Jesus.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris