“Sorry, No Room!”

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20 (Christmas Eve)

Sixty-odd years before the birth of Christ, in an aristocratic community of Rome, a very important child was born. As soon as he arrived, a messenger raced into the Roman Senate and announced, “The next ruler of the world is born.” His name was Octavius, and he was destined to become the adopted son of Julius Caesar.
He grew up in the palace. He was educated by the finest teachers of literature, philosophy and government. And at the age of 33 he was the uncontested ruler of the entire Roman Empire. He only had to give the word and armies would march and ships would sail. He only had to give the word and the world would move for him. The Senate gave him the name Emperor Augustus, meaning the exalted, or revered one, and he would reign over the golden age of the empire.
- M. Craig Barnes, Becoming God’s child, National Presbyterian Church Web Site, December 13, 1998, Natpresch.org.

Augustus would greatly expand Roman influence through conquest and subjugation, but within the core of the empire, peace would become the watchword of the day – Pax Romana – or Roman Peace would be the normal day’s expectation for his subjects. He would establish a network of roads, he would create an early form of the mail system, he would create a standing police and fire fighting force in the city of Rome, he would create the Praetorian Guard (the Roman version of our Secret Service), and the eighth month on the calendar – August – would be named after him. And upon his death, the Roman senate would declare him to be a god, worthy of worship by all of the known world.

And this is the person who is mentioned in the first 5 words of our text for this night:

Read Luke 2:1-7

For just a moment, compare the life that Augustus would lead, to that of Jesus. They were born into the opposite ends of the social spectrum – Augustus into power and superiority, and Jesus into humility. Augustus would be educated in the ways of the elite, while Jesus would be trained to be a carpenter. Augustus would live in the finest of homes, but Jesus would never have any home that he could truly call his own. Augustus would be surrounded by the most influential and powerful people of his day, while Jesus would choose to be in the midst of the poorest and rejected of earth. And even though they would both be declared to be divine at their death (Augustus by the Roman senate and Jesus by Thomas), Augustus would stay dead, while Jesus would continue to live.
And if the truth were known, Augustus would probably fit Israel’s vision of Messiah far better than Jesus ever would. He would be powerful, he would be a warrior, he would be a conqueror, he would be respected by his friends and feared by his enemies; and he brought a sense of peace and honor to those who would follow him.
Jesus would never do these things, but then, was he supposed to? He would be meek and humble so that everyone might be welcome at his side, he would offer forgiveness so that good and bad alike could come to his table, he would offer a new way to glory, but never demanded allegiance, he would be misunderstood by his friends, and hated by his opponents, and peace and respect in this life would never come to either him or those who chose to follow.
Augustus would force his way into the lives of countless people in many nations, but Jesus would never force his way into anyone’s life. Augustus would demand that others make room for him, but even at his birth, there was no room whatsoever for Jesus.

But as different as their lives were, they would intersect at Bethlehem, and even though Augustus didn’t know it, he was to become the instrument that would fulfill Divine prophesy.

Read Luke 2:8-14

Just a little difference in the birth announcements, too! Augustus’ birth was announced to the highest and most powerful government officials in the greatest empire on earth, - they were told that “The next ruler of the world is born.”
Jesus birth, on the other hand, was proclaimed to the lowest of Jewish society, the unclean, the uneducated, ones with no power whatsoever – and they were told “A Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord … Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace.” Augustus may have been the next ruler of Rome, but Jesus would be humanity’s Ruler for eternity!
No matter where Augustus went, there was plenty of room and nearly unlimited glory for him. But Jesus? There was no room and no glory at all for him.

Why would his heavenly Father allow such an inordinate discrepancy to occur? Who really deserves the honor and praise and glory of earth – the Savior of the world, or the “next ruler of Rome”? But before we get too judgmental of the people of the 1st century, let’s consider who we elevate to the status of “god” in our lives – who we give honor and glory to! Our jobs? Our social position? Drugged up and over paid sports figures? Shallow, conceited, immoral movie and recording stars? Elected officials who put their own agendas ahead of the needs of the nation? People who try to use the church to implement their own form of what is right, their own personal agenda, instead of letting the Holy Spirit reform and re-make them?
We make lots of room for the “Caesars” of the 21st century, but how much room do we really make for Jesus? The fact there was no room in the inn for the Anointed One of God seems more and more appropriate. The King of kings, the Prince of Peace, the Glory of the Heavens, relegated to an out of the way stable. It was prophesy, plain and simple!

Is it any wonder that it was shepherds who were the first to hear of Christ’s birth? They had no agendas, no position, no possessions, no wealth to distract them. They could make all kinds of room for Messiah!

Read Luke 2:15-20

When was the last time that we truly spent time seeking Jesus for our lives?
Shepherds left everything behind – their supper, their blankets, even their worldly responsibilities – and headed out to discover Jesus for themselves. Shepherds, who were considered unworthy because they were covered with blood and other filth that came from caring for their sheep, were the only ones who heard the heavenly messengers that evening, and were the only ones who left earth behind to find heavenly glory. They made room for God.
Mary, an unwed teenager, and her fiancé Joseph, committed themselves solely and completely to God’s purpose, and they set their fear of the world’s condemnation aside. And burdened with condemnation, they would be. And yet, they made room for God.

Pastor and author James Harnish writes:
I've begun to think that in one sense, the manger is a very small place. There isn't room in there for all the baggage we carry around with us. There's no room at the manger for our pious pride and self-righteousness. There's no room in the manger for our human power and prestige. There's no room at the manger for the baggage of past failure and unforgiven sin. There's no room at the manger for our prejudice, bigotry and hostile national pride. There's no room for bitterness and personal greed.

There is no room at the manger for anything other than the absolute reality of who and what we really are: very human, very real, very fragile, very vulnerable human beings who desperately need the gift of love and grace which God so powerfully desires to give.
--James A. Harnish, Do You Believe the Angels? Tampa, Fla., 24 December 1994.

On this night, we all must make room for him, like Mary and Joseph did, and like the shepherds did, and as countless millions have done over the centuries. Reach out to receive the grace and mercy that he holds out to you. Will you do that, or will you be saying to Jesus “Sorry, Lord. My life is just too busy and too hectic, and there is no room for you right now. Maybe one day I can carve out some room, but not now!”

Jesus spent his entire ministry with the masses. He sought no glory, no honor, no earthly position – his only and greatest desire was to bring those gifts to the world. Will you receive them tonight as his birthday gift to you?