The Raymer enterprise., 1913-12-11

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him who came to be Israel's Messiah
and the worlds Savior.
No room In the inn. Is there a
more pathetic sentence anywhere In
the Scriptures? The humble peas
ants who had come from Galilee and
who sought shelter In one of the vii
lage caravanserai were denied this
privilege; SO they both took shelter
in stable; and there Jesus was
born. No room for the King! The
pathos of 1t is almost too deep fol
words.
But that was always the answer
while Jesus was alive; he himself de
scribed 1t when he said Foxes have
holes and birds of the air have nests
but the Son Of Man hath not where
to lay his head. Misunderstood al
home. neglected by his friends. de
serted by his disciples, betrayed by
one Of them. and crucifed by the
rulers-Nazareth, Capernaum. Jerusa
lem-no room for Jesus
Through the centuries 1t has been
the same; that first night Oh earth
was a prophesy, for In spite of apos
ties, martyrs, saints and reformers
Jesus had not found room in relig
ious, political. social or individual
spheres of life in the case of the mil.
lions who have gone on their way
either unheeding or Indifferent. 0
the tragedy of the centuries-no room
for Jesus. The Lord of all despised
by the many. The region Of outer
darkness is filled with those who said
We will not have this one rule over
US: depart; no room for the King!
Room for pleasure. room for business
But for Christ the cruciiied.
Not place that he can enter.
In your heart for which he died?'
No room for Jesus. 1t Is true to.
day. Christ is not wanted, and the
Bethlehem story repeats itself. In
the city life proof is found in the
legalized saloon and all that goes
with 1t, In corrupt and vicious govern.
ment, in loose laws and looser enforce.
ment, In dishonest business, in social
laxity and impurity. In many homes
evidence is seen In the character of
the books In the library. the pictures
upon the walls, careless, ill-tem.
pered and profane language and con.
versation. and the ungodly habits OF
parents and the irreverence and dis.
obedience of children He who came
to make home life heaven has been
denied his place.
And just as our knowledge about
this Jesus Is greater than In that
time, so is our responsibility heavier,
our shame deeper, our sin greater.
I'VE know him in all the light which
his word and which all subsequent
history cast upon him. We know him
too-and this is our weightiest re.
sponsibility-in the claims which are
set up eternally by the Cross OF Cal.
vary" What will we say to him in
the end?
What Is wrong? Why do we keep
Christ out? Why are our hearts
closed against him? Is 1t opposition? :?
No, not usually. Let us look at
Bethlehem, for there Is slight paral.
lei. Amy Jewish mother however
humble would have rejoiced at the
great honor which came to Mary, and
any home however lowly would have
been made ready for Jesus. Any
ruler. rabbi, or priest then in Bethle.
hem would have taken any step nee.
essary to welcome Jesus, II he had
known. But 1t was time when every
available space was taken by pill
grims, these peasants did not look
like promising guests, people were
pre.occupied with what they consld.
cred weightier matters. and so liter.
ally Christ was crowded out; even
In the public place, there was no room
in the inn-the inn was full.
Bethlehem will rise up and con.
demn US. II II had known the day of
Its visitation. room would have been
made for Jesus, he would have had a
royal reception. But you know about
him; he has sent word to you; he has
been waiting for place In your
heart; you know who he Is and what
he will do for you; you have heard
the story Of his love. and grace and
power. and still-no room for Jesus
Behold. I stand at the door and
knock Will you not let him In! I
said this text was the most pathetic
verse In the Bible; but It is not 80
pathetic as the tragedy OF the men
and women OF today who are pre.
occupied with the world. the flesh and
the devil. and who In wilful and
culpable rejection crowd Christ out
Of their lives, who give themselves
over to the things Of time and sense.
and send Christ to the stable. Coma