Luke 2:1-7

The reason that Jesus was born in Bethlehem was a decree that had been issued by the Roman Emperor that everyone should return to their ancestral home to be registered. This meant that there were a lot of people travelling at once and the demand on inns and guest rooms was high.

That there was ‘no room at the inn’ is a well-known part of the Christmas story, and Joseph and Mary made the best of the situation, laying him in a manger that would typically be used to feed animals.

The whole situation does serve as a metaphor for how we receive the spiritual message of Christmas. Will we make room for Jesus in our hearts, or are we too full of distraction and business that we too would say that there is no room for him and he will need to go elsewhere.