​Ballston Spa United Methodist Church
  • Home
  • The Latest
    • Recent posts
    • March 19 message
    • March 12 message
    • March 5 message
    • February 26 message >
      • February 26 handout
    • February 19 message
    • February 12 message
    • February 5 message
    • January 29 message
    • January 22 message
    • January 15 message
    • January 8 message
    • January 1 message
    • December 18 message
    • December 11 message
    • November 27 message
    • November 20 message
    • October 30 message
    • October 23 message
    • October 16 message
    • October 2 message
    • September 25 message
    • September 11 message
    • September 4 message
    • August 28 message
    • August 14 message
    • August 7 message
    • July 31 message
    • July 24 message
    • July 17 message
    • July 10 message
    • July 3 message
    • June 5 message
    • May 22 message
    • May 15 message
    • May 8 message
    • May 1 message
    • April 24 message
    • April 17 message
    • April 3 message
    • March 27 message
    • March 20 message
    • March 13 message
    • March 6 message
    • February 27 message
    • February 20 message
    • February 13 message
    • February 6 message
    • January 30 message
    • January 23 message
    • January 16 message
    • January 2 message
    • December 19 message
    • December 5 message
    • November 28 message
    • November 14 message
    • November 7 message
    • October 31 message
    • October 17 message
    • October 10 message
    • October 3 message
    • September 26 message
    • September 19 message
    • September 12 message
    • January 17 message
    • September 5 message
    • August 29 message
    • August 22 message
    • August 8 message
    • August 1 message
    • July 25 message
    • July 18 message
    • July 11 message
    • July 11 Scripture
    • June 27 message
    • June 13 message
    • June 6 message
    • May 9 message
    • May 2 message
    • April 25 message
    • April 18 message
    • April 11 message
    • April 4 message
    • March 21 message
    • March 14 message
    • March 7 message
    • February 28 message
    • February 21 message
    • February 14 message
    • January 31 message
    • January 24 message
    • January 10 message
    • January 3 message
    • December 13 message
    • December 6 message
    • November 29 message
    • November 15 message
    • November 1 message
    • October 11 message
    • Sept 13 message
    • Sept 6 message
    • Aug 30 message
    • Aug 23 message
    • Aug 16 message
    • July 26 message
    • July 12 Message
    • July 5 message
    • June 28 message
    • May 24 message
  • Videos
    • This week's service
    • Worship videos 2023
    • Worship videos 2022
    • Worship videos 2021
  • About Us
    • Church Staff
    • Church Directions
    • How to reach us
    • History
  • Ministry Matters
    • Announcements >
      • Ministry Matters March 19
      • Ministry Matters March 12
      • Ministry Matters March 5
      • Ministry Matters February 26
      • Ministry Matters February 19
      • Ministry Matters February 12
      • Ministry Matters February 5
      • Ministry Matters January 29
      • Ministry Matters January 22
      • Ministry Matters January 15
      • Ministry Matters January 8
      • Ministry Matters January 1
      • Ministry Matters December 18
      • Ministry Matters December 11
      • Ministry Matters November 27
      • Ministry Matters November 20
      • Ministry Matters November 6
      • Ministry Matters October 23
      • Ministry Matters October 9
      • Ministry Matters October 2
      • Ministry Matters September 25
      • Ministry Matters September 11
      • Ministry Matters September 4
      • Ministry Matters August 28
      • Ministry Matters August 21
      • Ministry Matters August 14
      • Ministry Matters July 31
      • Ministry Matters July 24
      • Ministry Matters July 17
      • Ministry Matters July 3
      • Ministry Matters June 26
      • Ministry Matters June 19
      • Ministry Matters June 12
      • Ministry Matters June 5
      • Ministry Matters May 29
      • Ministry Matters May 22
      • Ministry Matters May 15
      • Ministry Matters May 8
      • Ministry Matters May 1
      • Ministry Matters April 24
      • Ministry Matters April 17
      • Ministry Matters April 10
      • Ministry Matters April 3
      • Ministry Matters March 27
      • Ministry Matters March 20
      • Ministry Matters March 13
      • Ministry Matters March 6
      • Ministry Matters February 27
      • Ministry Matters February 20
      • Ministry Matters February 13
      • Ministry Matters February 6
      • Ministry Matters January 30
      • Ministry Matters January 23
      • Ministry Matters January 16
      • Ministry Matters January 9
      • Ministry Matters January 2
      • Ministry Matters December 12
      • Ministry Matters December 5
      • Ministry Matters November 28
      • Ministry Matters November 21
      • Ministry Matters November 14
      • Ministry Matters November 7
      • Ministry Matters October 31
      • Ministry Matters October 17
      • Ministry Matters October 10
      • Ministry Matters October 3
      • Ministry Matters September 26 >
        • Understanding the UMC Budget
      • Ministry Matters September 19
      • Ministry Matters September 12
      • Ministry Matters September 5
      • Ministry Matters August 29
      • Ministry Matters August 22
      • Ministry Matters August 1
      • Ministry Matters July 25
      • Ministry Matters July 18
      • Ministry Matters July 11
      • Ministry Matters June 27
      • Ministry Matters June 13
      • Ministry Matters June 6
      • Ministry Matters May 30
      • Ministry Matters May 23
      • Ministry Matters May 9
      • Ministry Matters May 2
      • Ministry Matters April 25
      • Ministry Matters April 18
      • Ministry Matters April 11
      • Ministry Matters April 4
      • Ministry Matters March 28
      • Ministry Matters March 21
      • Ministry Matters March 14
      • Ministry Matters March 7
      • Ministry Matters February 28
      • Ministry Matters February 21
      • Ministry Matters February 14
      • Ministry Matters February 7
      • Ministry Matters January 31
      • Ministry Matters January 24
      • Ministry Matters January 17
      • Ministry Matters January 10
      • Ministry Matters January 3
      • Ministry Matters December 20
      • Ministry Matters December 13
      • Ministry Matters December 6
      • Ministry Matters November 29
      • Ministry Matters November 22
      • Ministry Matters November 15
      • Ministry Matters November 8
      • Ministry Matters November 1
      • Ministry Matters October 25
      • Ministry Matters October 18
      • Ministry Matters October 11
      • Ministry Matters October 4
      • Ministry Matters September 27
      • Ministry Matters September 20
      • Ministry Matters September 13
      • Ministry Matters August 16
      • Ministry Matters July 12
      • Ministry Matters July 5
      • Ministry Matters June 29
      • Ministry Matters May 31
      • Ministry Matters May 24
      • Ministry Matters May 16
      • Ministry Matters May 7
      • Ministry Matters April 30
      • Ministry Matters 4/23/20
  • How We Serve
    • Food Pantry
    • Clothing Thrift Shop
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • UM Economic & Lakota Ministries
    • Fair Trade Coffee
    • Regional Food Bank Trip
    • 2020 Falling Leaves 5K Run
    • 2019 Falling Leaves 5K Run
    • Bright Red Book Shelf
    • Summer Lunch Program
  • Giving
    • Online giving
    • Sign up for automatic giving
    • Through On-line Purchasing
  • Resources
    • Safe Sanctuary Policy
    • Links
    • Forms
    • Photos & Videos

Christmas Through the Eyes of the Innkeeper
Isaiah 9:2,6-7; Luke 2:1-7  

      The story of Jesus’ birth found in the book of Luke is brief, beautiful, and beloved. Every Advent we listen attentively, and if you’re like me, you hope God will help you hear it in a fresh and meaningful way.
      We also heard the prophecy from Isaiah 9 this morning: it describes people walking in darkness, who then see light dawn on the horizon. The One who will dispel all darkness is a child - a tiny baby. God’s divine plan for the salvation of the whole world, depends on a newborn boy, weighing maybe 7 pounds. Can you step back enough to see how inconceivable this sounds, how un-believable, if you’ve never read a Bible or heard the story told?
      Then there’s Mary. God, who sees and knows all things, carefully chose her to be the mother of His Son because she was the most worthy young woman in all of Israel. She listened as the angel Gabriel explained that she was “favored” by God, chosen intentionally out of a large population of women. Though greatly surprised by this revelation, Mary immediately said “yes” - she was willing to carry the Savior of the world in her womb. Her choice, in that moment, set the entire trajectory of her life.
     What I’ve just shared about a virgin, birthing God’s Son, would have been shocking and refuted by people back then, if they had no familiarity with Hebrew Scriptures. But if you were an Israelite, you’d know that Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah, and revealed a startling clue: He’d arrive as a child.  That narrows down the possibilities!
      Hundreds of years passed, but two devout Jews named Anna and Simeon, who worshipped at the Temple in Jerusalem every day, remembered. They spent most of their lifetime searching the crowds, looking for a young boy. They let nothing distract them; it was their highest priority. And they were rewarded - both saw Jesus with their own eyes.
      Each of the people I’ve talked about have one thing in common: they were open to God and eager to do His will. Nothing cluttered their life or pulled their attention away from God. God delights in using those who are available. Mary, Simeon and Anna had this in common: their prayer was “Here I am; use me, Lord.”    
      But in the brief, beautiful, and beloved Christmas story, not every character saw Jesus. There is one who missed the miracle that happened in his own back yard. Think back to children’s pageants you’ve watched (or been in) when Mary and Joseph, weary after traveling all day and into the night, arrive at an inn. The one who answered the door is assumed to be the innkeeper. We’re not told his name - he’s anonymous. Always pay close attention in the Bible when someone is not named. Many times, it’s not an oversight; it’s left blank so we can put ourselves into the situation and see if we admire or dislike the person. Very often there’s a truth or lesson God wants us to learn.
       Let’s consider the mysterious innkeeper. Artists and Sunday School children in plays often portray him as grumpy, old, and cold-hearted. Can you imagine a scowling, bearded man opening the door, then practically shutting it in Joseph’s face before he could explain their situation? He’d heard every sob story, some true and others made up. But the husband looked honest, and his wife exhausted, so he grudgingly led them to a damp, dark opening in a hillside where he tied up his animals at night. As he turned to go back to the inn, he made it clear they had to get on their way elsewhere come morning.
     Based on this account, would God have searched the land and chosen him as “most favored”? Did he show much compassion on them as strangers? That is God’s command. And did he ever get to synagogue to worship and learn, so he might hear Isaiah’s amazing prophecy?
      Let’s flip this around and consider another possibility…. The innkeeper was a jolly sort, quick with a smile. He took in every detail when the couple came to his door. He found a way to help others, even if it meant giving up his own bed or bread. All he had to offer the vulnerable couple at that late hour was shelter in his animals’ earthen cave. He made two trips back to the inn to fetch them leftover food and water, then blankets and some candles to illumine the darkness.
     Based on this account, the innkeeper sounds generous and joyful. He did more than give them a roof over their heads; he fed them, made sure they were warm and had light, treating them more like family than strangers. He sounds like a godly man, who much preferred helping people in need to staying in his back office counting his profits.
       Today, I wanted us to think about Mary and Joseph, Anna and Simeon, and the anonymous innkeeper. What they have in common is Jesus, but what differentiates them is WHO Jesus is to them – and what that means for their lives. See which one you best identify with this morning.
     Anna and Simeon were waiting for Jesus’ arrival, with eagerness. They are the senior saints of the bunch, raised from birth to know and trust in God. Their devotion runs deep, but they don’t draw attention to themselves. Prayer comes naturally to them, as does joy when they sing praises to God.
      Do you feel like you may be a senior saint? What you can offer others is your example of staying the course, strong in your faith, over the decades. You remind us to look outward and be alert, because God continues to bring us blessings and surprises all the days of our lives. You also remind us that God hears and answers our prayers, not in our time, but in His.
      Mary and Joseph I see as being in a fledgling but maturing period of faith. There is much they haven’t yet learned about faith, or themselves, or what life can be like in the wider world. They have immense, untapped potential. What especially distinguishes them is their availability to be used by God. Not many people are open to changing the trajectory of their life. God saw that, was well pleased, and used them each in wonderful, but not always easy ways.
       Do you feel like you have some things in common with Mary and Joseph? You believe in God, but have a hunger in you to grow in your faith? Is there a part of you that’s willing to step outside your comfort zone, because you feel God can use you? Are you someone who is able to say, “God, thy will be done, not mine?”
      Then we have the no-name innkeeper. He had a demanding job, and too often felt stretched to the limit. He was honest enough to admit he was often preoccupied and thus missed out on some major events. He knew that if he set priorities and kept them, that could make a big difference in his life.
      I suspect that some of us might identify with the innkeeper. Do you feel there are never enough hours in the day to do all that needs doing? Do you have regrets, knowing you were working or elsewhere, and you missed out on irreplaceable moments? And do you know it’s in your power to realign your time and priorities, if you’re ready to commit and make it happen?
      Now for a life application challenge: I invite you to light 2 candles on your Advent wreath this week, if you have one at home. As you do, think about Mary and Joseph also lighting two candles in the stable. Imagine them looking with wonder at Jesus, as they huddle together in the hay.
       If you’re not that good at imagining, I encourage you to search for that scene in paintings, sketches, or figurines. Artists through the centuries have used their gifts to portray that wonder-filled night. Go to the library or look online, find this scene, and look closely - notice the details, sense the mood, see where your eyes are drawn. It may make the night of our dear Savior’s birth more real to you than ever before. Amen.

Like us on Facebook:

Visit our Facebook Page:

© 2023 Ballston Spa United Methodist Church. 101 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
E-Mail: