We all know of the Innkeeper, we see him in every nativity play, when Joseph knocks on his door and is told “There is no room at the inn”.
It’s not a favourite role amongst most children when the parts are being given out. After the lead roles – Mary, Joseph, Angel Gabriel, Kings, shepherds, other angels, donkey, other assorted animals (dependant on what costumes are in stock) - you’re left with the Innkeeper.
One author* reminiscing about his Primary school teaching days in a book (I cannot remember which author it was, only that his books made me laugh out loud) mentions a rather disgruntled lad who gets lumped with this role.
He was not happy about it. It wasn’t grand like a king or humble but cute as a shepherd. He has to be the one who says ‘NO ROOM AT THE INN’.
On the big night all the parents are seated, squashed into small chairs, and Mary and Joseph
totter across the stage. Joseph knocks on the large cardboard door and gives his sorry tale, long journey, pregnant wife etc. do you have any room?
And the reluctant Innkeeper throws out his arms and says….. “Of course we have room, come on in!” – much to the confusion of Mary and Joseph who look to the teacher for advice.
But what do we really know about the innkeeper? Well, actually we know nothing; he is not mentioned in the Bible. In Luke’s gospel we are just told she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Was there an Innkeeper at all – or just a sign saying NO VACANCIES?
I like to think there was an innkeeper, and maybe even and innkeeper’s wife, who look on the weary couple and, knowing their inn is full, make room in the only place left, the place they kept the animals. Warmer than the street, with straw to lie on and a manger to use as a crib.
The reason I like to think this is because I like to think that – after Mary and Joseph – the
Innkeeper was the next person to make room for Christ, that he found room there where his light could shine to reach shepherds and kings.
To call ourselves Christians means we have made room in our hearts for Christ. This Christmas let us remember to make room for Christ in our homes and our lives. That’s what Christmas is all about – God sends his son to be with us and we make room for him as we recognise in him our own salvation.
* Gervaise Phinn authored ‘A Wayne in a Manger’ & ‘The Virgin Mary has nits’ about his experiences with school nativity plays – brilliant reads.