Advent Gem #20  

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Luke 2: 1-7: “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

During that period in Judean history, many homes were built over natural caves or at least hallowed out basements.  The first floor usually consisted of at least two rooms, a large room where most of the family activities took place and a smaller room that was used for storage and/or a guest room. The cave below was used as a stable.   

Whether Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem for only the registration or for both the registration and one of the feast days, little Bethlehem must have been crowded.  Bethlehem residents often cleared both the stable and the guest room for friends and family who were traveling. The word often translated as “inn” is in Hebrew “kataluma”, which is a lodging place or a guest chamber. Because there was no room for them in the kataluma, they were invited to stay in the stable which had probably been cleaned in anticipation of an overflow of guests.  

“While they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered” suggests that perhaps they may have been in Bethlehem several days before Jesus was born. It is also probable that the place where they were staying might have belonged to a close relative. 

While the inn keeper is a standard character in Christmas pageants, no innkeeper is mentioned in scripture. No matter when the birth of Jesus occurred, some animals may have been present in the stable. However, they did not speak at midnight.  No matter how much we love “The Little Drummer Boy”, no little lad appeared that night to play his drum for the Christ Child. 

What is important is that He was born on the land where His ancestor, King David, was born.  His being born in Bethlehem establishes Him as the rightful heir to the throne of David. Luke 1:32-33: “32.  "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.''