Beetow
Active
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2020
- Messages
- 2,538
For most of my life I was led to believe that Jesus was born in a barn. But now I'm
not so sure because it appears to me that he wasn't. Nor does it appear to me that
Mary was forced to shelter her baby in a stable because the inn had no vacancy.
Here's how my mind was conditioned to think:
"She delivered her baby in a stable because there was no vacancy at the inn."
In point of fact, we're not told where Mary delivered; we're only told where she
sheltered her baby.
"She laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
What we're looking at there is a lack of adequate space for a new mom to tend her
baby. Inns in those days usually didn't offer private rooms. They often consisted of
a multiple occupancy space, i.e. something like a bunk house, but with no bunks.
Jesus' mom no doubt had brought along a bassinet because she was so close to
delivery, but conditions in the inn during the taxation likely provided little
opportunity for securing the infant's accouterments up off the floor. In other words:
Mary herself chose a stable for sheltering little Jesus because it was safer.
The feed box was crude but actually a very suitable crib. It not only protected little
Jesus from people stepping on him, but it's sturdy wood construction also
prevented someone from accidentally bumping him over in the dark.
It would seem that Mary was not only a conscientious mom, but also a very
practical girl.
_
not so sure because it appears to me that he wasn't. Nor does it appear to me that
Mary was forced to shelter her baby in a stable because the inn had no vacancy.
Here's how my mind was conditioned to think:
"She delivered her baby in a stable because there was no vacancy at the inn."
In point of fact, we're not told where Mary delivered; we're only told where she
sheltered her baby.
"She laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
What we're looking at there is a lack of adequate space for a new mom to tend her
baby. Inns in those days usually didn't offer private rooms. They often consisted of
a multiple occupancy space, i.e. something like a bunk house, but with no bunks.
Jesus' mom no doubt had brought along a bassinet because she was so close to
delivery, but conditions in the inn during the taxation likely provided little
opportunity for securing the infant's accouterments up off the floor. In other words:
Mary herself chose a stable for sheltering little Jesus because it was safer.
The feed box was crude but actually a very suitable crib. It not only protected little
Jesus from people stepping on him, but it's sturdy wood construction also
prevented someone from accidentally bumping him over in the dark.
It would seem that Mary was not only a conscientious mom, but also a very
practical girl.
_
