No room in the inn for baby Jesus
Not a single room or a spot
Occasioned by an order of a census call
This number of people was really a lot.
Weary after the long journey from home
Mary and Joseph needed a place to rest
But the crowd that thronged the streets that night
Made that an almost impossible test.
Moving from inn to inn they enquired within
Hoping for the remotest chance
Perhaps someone would note her pregnancy
And change this “no room” stance.
For so far all they heard as they had called
Was “no room”; “no room” was all they heard,
It appeared not a single room was available
Or what was left had been reserved.
An eye at last had caught the bulge
And in compassion that ‘inn-keeper’ pronounced
A “no room” with a welcome difference, “But
There is a stable,” the ‘inn-keeper’ announced.
“But as you would imagine,” he went on to say,
“That would not be a fitting place
Given that you are carrying an unborn child
A stable would be a definite disgrace.”
“We have come a long way,” Joseph must have said,
“And the time of my wife draws near
Do allow us Sir to use your stable
For we have heard “no room” everywhere.”
Not much could have been done with a stable
The animals would not have been removed,
But at least room was found for baby Jesus
Though it was a stable that was approved.
From heaven’s spendour with room to spare
God’s incarnate Son had come
To the earth he created at the beginning of time
To hear “no room”, “no room” we have none.
All that could be given to the Prince of Peace
Was a stable with a manger for a bed
Depriving the animals of a feeding trough
So that baby Jesus could lay his head.
Far from the palace one would expect for a king
The King of all kings was born
Witnessed by Mary, Joseph and the animals
On that very first Christmas morn.
“No room” was the response at every door
As the Saviour attempted to enter there
Only a stable, a manger and a little stall
In the inns there was “no room” to spare.
If they could see then what we know now
“No room” would not have been an option
For knowing God’s Son was seeking a room
Every inn would offer accommodation.
“No room” under the circumstances then
Could be considered a reasonable excuse
But given today and all that we know now
“No room” is no excuse if the Saviour we refuse.
“No room” for Jesus is “no room” in heaven
For the one who rejects God’s plea
No room in this life means ample space in hell
Read God’s word and you would see.
“No room,” “no room” said the in-keepers then
But they were only the keepers of an inn,
“No room”, “no room” expressed to Jesus now
And the keeper of that heart retains his sin.
“No room” for the devil means all room for Christ
No room for the ideologies of this world,
“No room” for the devil acknowledges the sacrifice
That Christ made; it’s recorded in the Word.
“No room” in my heart for that old devil
Not a single room or a spot
Occasioned by a call from my loving Saviour
Whose I am and the devil’s I am not.
Stewart Russell © 2016
