What if you were in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born? Here’s what I know. You probably would be unaware of anything going on in the city. It was a normal night for you and your family. In fact, if you were able to get a room you would have considered yourself very lucky. It was a complete sellout. There were absolutely no rooms. Not even one room. In fact, the only room available was not a room at all. It was a stable area where animals slept. And by the way, who would want to sleep in a room like that? Just think about the smell, the noise, the hay, the animals, and no bed. No one deserved a room like that.
Don’t you think that God’s Son deserved so much more? It does make you think. I wonder what would have happened if Joseph told the desk clerk at the Marriott, “Hey, my wife is pregnant and she is going to give birth to the King of kings and Lord of lords.” I can tell you what would have happened. They would have ended up in a stable; Jesus would have been born and laid in a manger. It seems to me that Mary and Joseph were quiet people and kept things to themselves. So, I’m sure they didn’t pull out the whole “Jesus, Savior of the World” card when trying to acquire a room. Why? I believe it is because they had an amazing understanding of God’s sovereignty and ability to take care of them.
They settled down in the stable area and Mary gave birth. Jesus, our Savior, our Lord, and our King, was born. Even at His birth, He was Savior, Lord, and King. It was a silent night. It was a Holy night.
Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant so, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
(composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria)