Yesterday, the focus was the incarnation and the significance of Emanuel, "God with Us." It reminded me of one of the more significant lessons I've ever heard. I heard it about 3 years ago from Rob Bell at Mars Hill called "The Beautiful Mamzer".
Mamzer is a greek word for bastard. We often forget the significance of the manner in which Jesus entered the world. He entered through a premarital pregnancy, an absolute no-no. Jesus was a a Mamzer. This label went on with him throughout his life...
Mark 6:2-4
2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
In Jerusalem at that time, you always referred to someone by their Father. You were "the son of"... unless you were trying to make a statement about that person.
John 8:19-20
19Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Was this question they asked an actual slam? Where the people trying to point out that Jesus was a mamzer?
The most significant point that hit me... there was no room at the inn.
Luke 2:6-7
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
A 15 year old girl on the verge of giving birth. And there was no room?
Bethlehem was Joseph's home town. There had to have been several family members. And there was no room?
Joseph had to have had childhood friends around. And there was no room?
The Jewish culture of the time prided itself on their hospilitality. And there was no room?
Note, it simply states that there was no room. It wasn't necesarrily full. The greek word for "inn" here is the word "Kataluma" which literally translated means "guest house".
Is the reality that there was "no room" based much more on the fact that Mary and Joseph were not welcome. Our King; the Almighty; The Savior; entered the world in a crap infested place, and took His first nap in a feeding trough for farm animals.
Some personal thoughts:
- Do I ever have the right to say, "God, you have no idea what I'm going through"???
- Is Christmas God's way of saying to us, "I've been there"?
- When Jesus enters the picture, it can tend to be a messy entrance. Do I have room for him in my life?
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