"...because there was no room for them in the inn."
Luke 2:7
Luke 2:7
If we were to give an award for the worst translation in the Bible, Luke 2:7 would certainly be a contender. One finds the word "inn" in virtually every contemporary translation, despite the fact that the Greek word simply doesn't mean "inn", at least in the sense that we think of it. In Jesus' time, there were no "inns" (hotels) within the towns and cities of Palestine. But more importantly, Luke uses this word elsewhere in his gospel (Luke 22:11), where it is translated as "upper room".
The Greek word kataluma most likely referred to the guest chamber within a home. The picture that Luke is presenting to us isn't that of a cruel hotel manager refusing to house a pregnant woman. Instead, he is telling us something much more ugly, much more dark is happening. To understand this, we have to remember the story.
Mary is pregnant. She is not married. Rumors are flying around about sexual immorality. Worse yet, Joseph is seen as a morally upstanding guy. The family and townspeople suspect Mary has had an affair with another man. Then, of course, comes the unbelievable story that God miraculously made her pregnant. No matter how you cut it, this isn't the relative you want staying in your house.
But we are not done. The government is forcing all families to go back to their childhood homes to register for tax purposes. Joseph, being legally betrothed to Mary, must take her with him. Since there are no hotels in the towns, Joseph will stay with one of his extended relatives. To refuse a guest, let alone a blood relative, would be unthinkable.
But...he had HER with him. What should a respectable Jewish household do? Certainly they cannot let HER stay in the guest chamber ("upper room"). In those days, houses were split into two (sometimes three) levels. The "upper room" level was the highest level. The middle level (in more modest homes, this would be the top level) was were the family "lived" (ate, sat, conversed, etc). The lower level was really more of a depression or drop in the floor. It shared the same ceiling and walls with the middle level. This lower level is where the animals were stored at night. No Israelite family could leave their animals outside at night. If thieves or predators didn't get them, the cold weather would. Thus, when you offered to let someone stay in the upper room, you were showing them kindness by getting them as far away from the stink of animals as you could. It was considered the "polite" thing to do.
But not for HER. They refused to let her sleep in the upper room. Yes, they had a good excuse (there were a lot of relatives in town, after all). But why not let the pregnant woman have the best? It was because, in their eyes, she was the worst. They wanted her to sleep in the filth because that's how they saw her.
Mary, mother of Jesus....one more humiliation. Yet we see no hint of bitterness. Scripture records no tears. Only faith. She endured this burden, because she was carrying true freedom in her womb. When you know what's inside of you, external pressures and difficulties lose their power over you.
Mary had the savior of the world inside her womb. Who do you have inside your heart?
The Greek word kataluma most likely referred to the guest chamber within a home. The picture that Luke is presenting to us isn't that of a cruel hotel manager refusing to house a pregnant woman. Instead, he is telling us something much more ugly, much more dark is happening. To understand this, we have to remember the story.
Mary is pregnant. She is not married. Rumors are flying around about sexual immorality. Worse yet, Joseph is seen as a morally upstanding guy. The family and townspeople suspect Mary has had an affair with another man. Then, of course, comes the unbelievable story that God miraculously made her pregnant. No matter how you cut it, this isn't the relative you want staying in your house.
But we are not done. The government is forcing all families to go back to their childhood homes to register for tax purposes. Joseph, being legally betrothed to Mary, must take her with him. Since there are no hotels in the towns, Joseph will stay with one of his extended relatives. To refuse a guest, let alone a blood relative, would be unthinkable.
But...he had HER with him. What should a respectable Jewish household do? Certainly they cannot let HER stay in the guest chamber ("upper room"). In those days, houses were split into two (sometimes three) levels. The "upper room" level was the highest level. The middle level (in more modest homes, this would be the top level) was were the family "lived" (ate, sat, conversed, etc). The lower level was really more of a depression or drop in the floor. It shared the same ceiling and walls with the middle level. This lower level is where the animals were stored at night. No Israelite family could leave their animals outside at night. If thieves or predators didn't get them, the cold weather would. Thus, when you offered to let someone stay in the upper room, you were showing them kindness by getting them as far away from the stink of animals as you could. It was considered the "polite" thing to do.
But not for HER. They refused to let her sleep in the upper room. Yes, they had a good excuse (there were a lot of relatives in town, after all). But why not let the pregnant woman have the best? It was because, in their eyes, she was the worst. They wanted her to sleep in the filth because that's how they saw her.
Mary, mother of Jesus....one more humiliation. Yet we see no hint of bitterness. Scripture records no tears. Only faith. She endured this burden, because she was carrying true freedom in her womb. When you know what's inside of you, external pressures and difficulties lose their power over you.
Mary had the savior of the world inside her womb. Who do you have inside your heart?
0 comments:
Post a Comment