As a Diverse Church in Kansas City, we are always looking for a way to show that Jesus is for EVERYONE. It doesn’t matter the age or background, He wants to change any life He can. This is why He came and why we celebrate Christmas!
At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived. Luke 2:1-3 GW
This was a time when everyone had to pay their taxes (Can you relate?). And Joseph and Mary were not a wealthy couple. Not only was this a costly trip but Mary was in her very last stages of pregnancy. The pressure must have been on.
They arrived in Bethlehem road-weary, maybe hungry, and all they wanted was to find lodging. A place to rest and refresh. They knocked and the innkeeper said,
“No room.”
The world can be like this innkeeper. Jesus knocks and knocks and knocks but all they can say is,
“No room.”
Joseph and Mary knocked on the door of the Inn. The owner of this Inn was too busy making money and tending to his business to be sensitive to the fact that the Messiah was literally at his doorstep.
Even professed believers in Christ can become numb to the sound of Jesus knocking on our hearts. Knock…knock…knock. We can be so busy with the things of this world, that we don’t even hear him. There is simply…
No room.
Listen to this scripture.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20 NKJV
This was not written for unbelievers as many understand it. Jesus is speaking to the church. Are you distracted? Are the goods and accolades of this world more important than Jesus? He is knocking! Will you let Him in?
...but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished… Luke 2:10-18 NLT
The tables have now turned. Now people are seeking Jesus. They were knocking asking Jesus,
“Can we come in?”
Shepherds were dirty. Considered the blue-collar workers of their time they were unable to attend temple services or keep the ceremonial laws. Guarding the very sheep often used for sacrifices unto the Lord they were unable to practice their religion and were despised by the religious leaders.
These shepherds were rejected by men. Yet the angels appeared to them with news of the Messiah. They ran to see this amazing thing for themselves and when they arrived Jesus did not turn them away.
Have you ever felt rejected? Jesus is ready to open his arms to you.
After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.” Matt 2:9-15
Some time has now passed. Joseph had found lodging for his family. They were going about their normal day when there was a knock on the door, The three wise men had finally reached their destination. These men were wealthy, intelligent, and respected. They were highly educated and were the scientists and philosophers of their day. Yet with all their wealth, education, and philosophy, they had a need for something more. They had traveled miles following a star in hopes of worshipping a King greater than all the kings of the earth.
Are you doing well in life? Have you worked and studied and sacrificed to become a respected name in your field, city, or even your nation? Is it really enough for you or do you have this sense that there has to be more? Some say Jesus is a crutch for the addicted, the poor, the rejected but he came for the self-righteous and the well to do also.
Whether you are from the wrong side of the tracks or you possess all the bells and whistles of this life do you find yourself in need of Jesus? He is knocking.
Will you open the door?
PRAY THIS
Jesus, I have need of You. There are so many times when I feel empty, alone, unloved, and lost. No matter what I do in life I can find nothing that really satisfies me. No matter who I let in my life there is no real fulfillment. Nothing good really seems to last. I have been disappointed so many times and I disappoint myself more times than I can count. I hear you knocking Jesus and am opening the door wide. Please flood my life with Your presence and not just once but every day. Amen!
MEDITATE ON THIS
Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hearing my voice and you open the door within, I will come into you and feast with you, and you will feast with me. And to the one who conquers I will give the privilege of sitting with me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. The one whose heart is open lets him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to the churches. Revelations 3: 20-22