The Innkeeper And His Guests Missed The First Advent Series

INTRODUCTION

CUSTOM BLOCK

Advent means the arrival; the appearance and that term is usually associated with someone who is notable. So, it is fair to say that those who lived in the times of the Old Testament were looking for the Advent (the coming, the appearance) of Christ. In fact, Advent is not limited to those on the other side of the cross. We who are on this side of the cross are also looking for the Advent of Christ, His second appearance, this time for His Church. But here is the sad thing, some are not going to be ready for His Second Coming. Now that should not surprise me because some were not ready for His first coming despite all that was said about the Messiah coming to earth from the mouths of the prophets.

For the next few weeks as we approach Christmas, I want to look at those persons who misses the First Advent- the Innkeeper and his guest, King Herod and the scribes and priest who Herod summoned. I want us to see what we can learn from them so that we don’t miss the Second Advent or see what we can learn so we can tell others so that they don’t miss the Second Advent.

So, we will look at the innkeeper and his guest today and that takes us to Luke 2:1-7. Please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

2 SCRIPTURE

APPLICATION

Luke 2:1-7 (NKJV)

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

BACKGROUND

Did you notice the last two words of verse seven (7) that we just read? The Inn! What does every inn have? An innkeeper and his guest. There must be someone who manages the place and people who stay there-the guests. In our story that we just read; we are told that this innkeeper met a woman who was near time to deliver her baby, but there is no mention of him trying to accommodate her in his inn. I know it was full, but you could always find room if you wanted to find room. Haven’t you in the past done that when family came to town even though you had a full house? You did not turn them away; you found room. Maybe the innkeeper could have found a space in the corner of a room where you could roll out a mat and let a pregnant woman have a warm place to spend the night. Instead, this innkeeper did not want to be bothered or inconvenienced so he sends her out telling her that his inn has no room.

And the guests staying at the inn, they make no effort to rearrange their own accommodations to make room for Mary in their room.

And what is so interesting to me Advent had come to this innkeeper and to these guests? And they missed it, and I want to know why?

4 ONE

SOMETIMES WE ARE SO BUSY DOING LIFE THAT WE MISS THE MIRACULOUS.

Luke 2: 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

For the innkeeper, business was good. A crowded inn meant the innkeeper was running here and there making sure that his guests were satisfied. But think of all the money that he was making. A crowded inn means big dollars in the innkeeper’s pockets. And the sad commentary is that he was so busy doing life that he missed that the Savior of the world in the womb of Mary walking into his established. The innkeeper did not have time for Jesus and so he pushed Jesus out. There is no room here for you.

Jesus had so much to say in the New Testament about doing life that you miss the miraculous. To Martha who was so busy in the kitchen, preparing a meal for Jesus and His disciples that she got no time to spend with Him. Jesus tells Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things, but you are neglecting the most important thing- time with me. She was so busy doing life that she was missing that the Son of God was in her house.