inn crowd...?

One of the bishopric members shared a thought with us. it got me thinking.




Lately i've been interested in this book by Susan Easton Black called 400 Questions & Answers about the life and times of Jesus Christ [i've learned so much already and gained a whole different perspective of His life and i'm only at the beginning]. she mentions something about the so-called "inn" that Joseph and Mary came across.

"It is not likely that Joseph the carpenter sought shelter for Mary in a public, noisy caravansary [place where travelers stayed]. It is more probable that he looked for a private room to rent in Bethlehem."

She also says, "Failing to find such a room, Joseph and Mary possibly lodged in a nearby limestone cave. Several caves on the hillside of Bethlehem were artificially enlarged, creating an upper chamber used as a dwelling place and a lower chamber intended for animals. It is possible that Joseph found shelter for Mary in a lower chamber in which there was a manger or feeding trough intended for animals."

That paints a slightly different picture in my head that i've never gotten from admiring countless nativity sets over the years. the picture in my head goes from a shack-barn-type structure of wood on the edge of town, to a wet, cold cave in a hillside. when Mary had baby Jesus, she was no older than 15, and Joseph was only about 20. they were both so young.

They were shunned and very much alone as they prepared to raise the Savior of the world. while Mary gave birth to a King in a lonely, smelly cave i wonder where i would have been that night.

I hope i would have been one of the few that believed Mary and Joseph and resolved to do everything possible to support them and make their burdens lighter. i hope i would have been in that stable to witness the divine birth of our Savior and welcome Him into the world and worship at His feet.


I hope that i can keep God's commandments today so that i can have a place with Him in the stable few.

And although the stable few may experience loneliness and discomfort, just as Mary and Joseph did on that night, there is no amount of comfort or warmth i would trade if it meant i would excuse myself from the presence of the Savior. i hope that He can rely on me to be His witness and stay with Him in any circumstance.

It may not be inn, but it will always be stable.