Without Reservation

“We have no rooms available this evening.” The dreaded response to the question, “Do you have any availability at your hotel?” How many of us have ever been in this predicament when looking to book a hotel room, often in the event of an unforeseen circumstance that requires last minute changes to travel logistics? (**Raises both hands for the multiple experiences had in this situation).

Now, imagine that scenario but with the added elements of what we read in Luke 2 about Jesus’s birth. We see in verse 7 that, “[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

No room for baby Jesus whose birth had been foretold for hundreds of years, first appearing in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” As Louie Giglio pointed out in a recent sermon, “You mean to tell me that with all those years of advanced notice, no one thought to book a room for them?” Great question. Surely Joseph or Mary questioned how the Savior of the entire world had to rest His precious head in a manger, surrounded by an undoubtedly pungent odor from the animals in the stable stalls. Not a picture perfect situation by any stretch of the imagination. However, it was the perfect scenario because those who first came to visit Jesus were shepherds, who had been visited by an angel of the Lord telling them of Jesus’s birth and providing them with a sign: “you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

Jesus came into this world without reservation (an arrangement to have something held for one’s use; having reluctance or hesitation; doubt). Literally, He did not have a booking to stay at the inn yet stayed where there was room. More importantly, He came to this earth without any unwillingness in Him or doubt for the purpose of His presence whatsoever. He knew that it was the only way we could be saved from our sins and enter into an eternal covenant relationship that is close, intimate, and uniquely personal. He came yielded, willing, and completely accessible to everyone, from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in society. It is quite possible that the shepherds would have found Jesus inside the inn had there been room, but it would likely have been a cramped space, as well as a place not often frequented by people in their profession, causing some inevitable hesitation on their part to visit. Instead, they were able to find him in a place that had room, was accessible and inviting, and was somewhere that was well within their realm of comfort—a stable. Without reservation, Jesus came to them at their level.

That’s what He does. He always comes to us where we are. He brought the Kingdom of heaven to earth, and remains as Emmanuel. As our Savior, who does He need to be for us today, and where does He need to meet us? He wants to be invited into our realm to be with us wherever we are (physically, spiritually, emotionally, geographically).

Today, we can, without reservation, open our hearts to Him completely and allow His promised presence to reside in us. We can also model what Jesus did and meet people where they are to minister to them during this Christmas season, and beyond, as we travel to be with family, and during the year when our work has us on the road. We can decide to follow Him without reservation and trust that His plans are perfect, His ways are straight with full expectancy of fulfilled promises.

Jesus had no reservations; will we?

Praying for strength for the journey, grace for the season and its demands, and the gift of intimacy in God’s presence. Blessings on you all and Merry Christmas in one week!