SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #101 ---- 12/20/99
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #101 ---- 12/20/99
TITLE: "The Man Without A Face ---- The Innkeeper"
Dear Pilgrim Partner:
It is so good to have contact with you again, and realize I will write
only once more this year ---- next week. Then it will be another year,
the year 2,000! What an opportunity, to see all four numbers change on
the year. Did you know that only happens once every thousand years?
Amazing!
Another amazing thing for me is to realize two years have gone by since I
started writing and I've now written 113 "Shoulder To Shoulder" letters.
What a joy and blessing it has been to me! Thanks for letting me share
my heart with you so many times.
By now you know I feel there is far too much "hooplah" over the year
2,000 ---- primarily because mathematically December 31, 1999 is neither
the end of a century or the end of a millennium, but rather the beginning
of the final year. Apart from Y2K, created by a typical human
miscalculation, this New Year's Eve and the coming year are pretty much
like all previous ones.
Nonetheless there is indeed something magical about the thought ----
2,000 A.D.! Wow!
But, you know, the first thing that comes to my mind is a desire my Dad
has had. For years I have heard him remark that, born in January of
1915, he wanted to do three things in the year 2,000 ---- Play one round
of golf, eat one good steak, and preach one sermon; then he'd be ready to
go home to be with the Lord.
Last week while Jo Ann and I were checking up on them, Dad asked me if he
could have an opportunity to preach in one of the services of the church
where I am interim pastor. That made the year 2,000 finally significant
to me. And you can rest assured that I'm going to do everything possible
for him to have that opportunity. I'll probably ask him to play the
piano and sing, too.
JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
December 22nd is also a very unique day. If you have a clear night,
you'll see the biggest image of the moon you've ever seen.
For the first time in our lifetime, unless someone was alive in 1886,
we'll see a full moon occur on the Winter solstice, Dec. 22nd, commonly
called the first day of Winter. Since a full moon on the Winter solstice
occurs in conjunction with a lunar perigee (when the Moon's orbit is
closest to Earth), the Moon will appear about 14% larger than it does at
apogee (when its elliptical orbit is farthest from the Earth).
Since the Earth is also several million miles closer to the sun at this
time of the year than in the summer, sunlight striking the Moon is about
7% stronger, thus making it brighter. Also, this will be the closest
perigee of the Moon for the year since the Moon's orbit is constantly
deforming.
If the weather is clear and there is a snow cover where you live, it is
believed that even car headlights will be superfluous.
In layman's terms: It will be a super bright full moon, much more than
the usual AND it hasn't happened this way for 133 years! Our ancestors
133 years ago saw this. Any living descendants we have will not see
another one unless they live at least 100 or so years when the next
occasion occurs.
Now, since it's summer for you Aussies, Kiwi's and other Southern
Hemisphere dwellers, you'll have to wait for another time. To the rest
of you ---- check the moon on either the 21st or 22nd (I can't remember
which).
So much for profound scientific facts.
UNKNOWN AND MUCH MALIGNED:
There's something special about the Innkeeper in the Christmas story.
Continuing my mini-series on the "secondary" characters of the Christmas
story, it is altogether possible you might not even count him as being
"secondary" ---- maybe "third-ary" or "fourth-ary". I mean, he hardly
had what playwrites would even call a bit part. Only Luke refers to him
at all (IF at all), and, as far as I can recall, he is never referred to
again in any of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Epistles.
One fourth of one verse in the entire Bible does nothing more than allude
to the likelihood of his existence and his work. He is never
specifically mentioned anywhere in Scripture that I recall.
He is "significantly significant by his insignificance" to the flow of
the story ---- "She (Mary) gave birth to her first-born son; and she
wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).
That's it ---- that's all there is. It's as if he didn't even exist. In
fact, the word "Inn" only appears twice in the entire New Testament, the
second time in reference to the parable of the Good Samaritan.
And, yet, this invisible man (or perhaps woman) without a name or a face,
maybe even without a body or an identity, has a great deal to teach us
about life and how we respond to the Christmas story.
Where have we even come up with our concept of the Innkeeper? As far as
I can tell, it all comes from an assumption built from one sentence in
the New Testament ("there was no room for them in the Inn"), from our own
culture and traditions, and from the artistic renderings of Medieval and
Renaissance painters. In that there was an inn, we assume there must
have been an innkeeper.
Our minds conjure up all kinds of images regarding this anonymous player
in the Christmas story. I've read all kinds of articles about him and
heard all kinds of treatments in the Christmas pageants and musicals I
have seen over the years. We've made him into everything from a money
grabbing uncaring man to a frustrated family man filled with immense
sorrow that he has not room for the soon-to-be parents.
Just last week I sang the "lead song" of the Innkeeper in our church's
cantata. Our worship leader thought I'd make a good Innkeeper because I
reminded him of the Fiddler on "Fiddler On The Roof", and he thought the
song characterized that kind of Innkeeper.
Listen to these words as you imagine me strutting around in the dirty
barn yard in front of my little motel, knee boots, baggy pants, and
Yiddish vest hiding my "over worked and under paid" carcass:
(Speaking to Joseph:)
"Sure, I can see your wife is great with child, but as you can see, my
place is full. What do you expect me to do!?! (What is it with these
young people today!?) Did you ever hear of planning ahead???"
(Singing to the audience:)
"I have never seen a night that was quite like this!
There is not an empty room in town ----------.
I've got strangers in my kitchen, with a table for a bed.
And some are even sleeping on the ground!"
(Then, turning to Joseph:)
"Well, I notice that your wife's in a fam'ly way,
So I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
Just to prove I'm sympathetic even though my house is full,
There's something that I still can offer you."
(Here the choir comes"wandering"" across the barn yard singing their
little ditty about it being an ordinary stable ---- little but warm.)
(The Innkeeper continues -----)
"Should it happen that the child should be born tonight,
You can use the manger for a bed.
Though I know it isn't fancy , it's the best that I can do.
With what I'm charging, what do you expect???"
(Here comes the choir again!)
Then the Innkeeper finishes it off with, "This is too much work for what
I get paid! What a night this has turned out to be!"
Well ---- you get the picture. We have created our varying imageries of
someone we know almost nothing about, and who may not have even existed
in the first place.
Sorta like what folks sometimes do regarding people in ministry. Do you
ever feel as if nobody recognizes you or what you do? Do you ever feel
as if nobody even sees you? Have you ever felt as if you were just the
figment of someone's misguided imagination, and that you actually don't
even exist?
Well, my friend, ---- those who know the true story of Christ know who
you are, and what you do. So, take heart! Someone knows you are
important ---- and significant.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INSIGNIFICANT:
As I thought more fully about this unknown, unnamed, perhaps non-existent
man or woman whom we assume kept the Inn where Mary and Joseph rested,
and where our Lord Christ became Incarnate, five pressing thoughts were
driven deeply into my heart.
1. He was a man of little or no recognition.
Innkeepers are often that way. People notice the inn, the service, and
the food, but often not the innkeeper. For whatever reason, not one of
the Gospel writers mentions the innkeeper, and only Luke mentions either
the inn or the event itself.
If you think that isn't true, just remember back at all those times you
stayed in a motel somewhere. You could remember the name of the inn, its
location, the cleanliness of the room, the comfort of the bed, the
quality and quantity of television reception, whether or not they
included a continental breakfast (and how good it was) ---- all those
things.
But ---- what can you tell me about the innkeeper?
If you saw him on the street somewhere, you wouldn't know who he was or
what he did.
People in vocational ministry are sometimes like innkeepers. Oh, to be
sure, on a purely superficial level we may be recognized, but it's
usually for what we do and not for who we really are. But, in truth, we
often feel as if nobody really knows who we are, and that we actually
exist.
Innkeepers are easily taken for granted ---- and so sometimes are people
in ministry.
But ---- that's part of the package, and we'd best get used to it ----
without complaint.
Why? Because our job is to provide a haven for the wear traveler ----
not to make a name for ourselves.
2. He was a man with a misunderstood reputation.
As I mentioned earlier, while only a few people really knew this man,
millions know "about" him. And, it is those millions who have assumed
some things about him that are not verifiable, and are grossly
misunderstood.
How do we know whether or not he was a money grabbing opportunist?
Frankly, I doubt that he was.
How do we know whether or not he was a hard hearted uncaring man who was
not sensitive to the needs of this young couple about to become parents?
We don't.
How do we know whether or not he was a highly sympathetic grandfatherly
type who was so saddened over not having a comfortable room for Mary and
Joseph? We don't ---- but I'd like to think he was.
You see ---- when you don't really know the man, you can form all sorts
of conclusions and assumptions that are filled with holes.
Around the world people, because of assumptions and suspicions, have
concluded that all ministers are charlatans, all preachers are long
winded, ministers are only in it for the money or the fame, ad infinitum.
Frankly, it's sad ---- that this man is so misunderstood by so many. I
wish we really knew the truth about him. It would certainly be more fair
---- sorta like it would be fair if people really knew your heart and
what it is that drives you to serve the Lord vocationally when you could
be doing something else far more lucrative.
3. He was a man with an enormous obligation.
When you read the Christmas account in Luke 2, it becomes apparent that
there were far to few beds for oh, so many people flooding into that
sleepy little Bethlehem town.
And this innkeeper had a responsibility ---- a major responsibility.
First, he had to make sure his family and property were cared for and
safe. He had to be sure their needs were met, and with the swell of
hungry stomachs in town, there was probably a food shortage.
Additionally, he had to make sure his patrons were also well taken care
of ---- clean sheets, comfortable beds, a good parking place for their
transportation, a similitude of quiet for sleeping.
Finally, he had an added unexpected responsibility ---- a pregnant woman.
Once he committed himself to provide service and lodging, he obligated
himself to have to deal with any developments during their stay. And
sure enough ---- a development "developed".
Even though I've been in vocational ministry for 48 years, and I have
served as staff member, pastor, evangelist, and missionary, I am still
taken aback by the enormity of the responsibility I have to shepherd the
flock of God, rightly divide the Word of truth, protect the sheep from
the ravenous wolves, equip the saints for the work of ministry, live a
life above reproach and without blame, spend adequate time in God's Word
and before the Father in prayer.
It's mind boggling, my friend, when you realize that as an "innkeeper"
you have a responsibility of monumental proportion.
4. He was a man with an unexpected situation.
This man was doing what he had done probably for years ---- providing
lodging for weary travelers. But all of a sudden he was faced with three
unexpected developments.
1) First, he was faced with the responsibility of keeping his own
business running smoothly while, at the same time, taking care of his own
duty to register for the census ---- in his own place of birth. Whether
it was Bethlehem or someplace else, we don't know. But we do know that,
as a Jewish citizen, he had that obligation. He either had to travel
himself to some distant city, or he had to register locally. Either way,
he had to fit that into his work.
2) Second, he was faced with the enormity of an overflow business
caused by a circumstance that had never happened before in his generation
---- taking care of people coming to Bethlehem to be registered and to
pay taxes. The Bible tells us that this was the first time this had ever
happened in Palestine under Roman rule. There was a new set of rules to
which he had to adapt ---- find a place for more people than he had ever
seen before in town at the same time.
3) Finally, he was faced with having to deal with a pregnant woman
about to have a baby ---- in his hotel! Talk about having a stress test,
this was one. After all, it's one thing to run a hotel, but it's another
when you realize you've got one very pregnant teen ager on your hands,
and she's due anytime. On top of that, you realize that the only place
left for her and her husband to stay is in the nearby cattle shed built
back in the cave-like depression on the hillside near the edge of town.
You and I may be able to identify somewhat more clearly with this
particular situation, because we've probably had numerous unexpected and
unplanned developments that have thrown our lives into a whirlwind of
confusion and a flurry of emergency activity.
But, again ---- that's the way it should be for us. In fact, we are
constantly being notified by the Holy Spirit that God is totally
unpredictable in what He does, when He does it, and How He does it. We
should be ready for that. How boring our ministries would be if they
were completely predictable.
Of course, I've been in church services where that was just the case ----
everything was predictable. I don't believe God ever intended our
ministries to be predictable. Instead they should be unexplainable ----
apart from Him. I sometimes wonder, if God were to walk away from our
work and our churches, just how much would continue on uninterrupted,
business as usual. I am fearful that most churches wouldn't even know
the difference.
5. He was a man who received an enormous revelation.
This truth thrills my heart beyond expression. In spite of the fact that
this man was a "no name" man with a reputation misunderstood by millions
throughout history, filled with extraordinary pressures and obligations
on his hands, and facing a situation he never in his wildest dreams
anticipated, ---- he was in for the experience of a lifetime.
Just think about it ---- absolutely out of the blue, he is faced with the
very Incarnation of his own Redeemer ---- his Messiah ---- taking place
right in his own manger stall ---- on his property ---- before his very
eyes!
Can you imagine, my friend, what must have gone through this man's mind?
Put yourself in his place. If you had been this man, what would you have
thought? Would you have been skeptical and unbelieving, or would you
have known in an instant who this little baby was? Would you have poked
fun at the noisy shepherds so giddy with joy they could hardly explain
what had happened to them, or would you have seen them as God's
messengers sent to tell you about the treasure you had just received
unawares?
What a profound and life changing event took place in this man's stable!
What an eye opening phenomenon he had watched!
What would it have been like if you had been there the instant Alexander
Graham Bell spoke those very first words on the first telephone ---- I
mean, standing there right beside him? What would it have been like to
have been looking over his shoulder when Jonas Saulk suddenly realized he
had just that instant discovered the secret to protecting people from
polio? What would it have been like if you had stood alongside the table
on the USS Missouri when the Emperor of Japan and General Douglas
MacArthur had signed the terms of surrender which ended World War II?
Now ---- imagine what it would have been like to have been the innkeeper
who just discovered that God had come ---- in the flesh ---- and had
brought unconditional love in its purest form, full salvation absolutely
free, and total redemption for all who would receive it.
Don't you think that would have been a mind boggling discovery ---- one
that would have changed your life forever? I believe it was for the
innkeeper. I am convinced he was never the same after that.
I remember hearing Stephen Olford years ago say that, after all the years
of preaching, he still could not get over the fact that God called him to
preach the unsearchable riches of the Gospel.
If we ever become comfortable with the thought of ministering the Gospel
of Christ, and if we ever see our duties pertaining to that as having
become common place, my dear friend ---- we have forgotten the
awesomeness and enormity of God's divine revelation to us when He saved
us and called us to serve Him.
IN CONCLUSION:
The innkeeper is, in many ways, like those of us in vocational ministry.
That can be discomforting.
On the other hand, if we will but take time to examine this man and his
life, hidden, unnoticed, and nondescript as it was, we may well find
something with which we can identify. And, no matter if we do or do not
identify with his status as a "nobody", his misunderstood reputation, or
his multitudinous duties, we must never forget the profoundness of the
Divine Revelation we have perceived and received.
If we ever get over that, we are in deep trouble.
May we always, dear friend, ---- you and I together ---- spend the rest
of our lives with our eyes wide in awe and our mouths open in stunned
silence as we observe the ongoing revelation of our Redeemer to our lives
and in our ministries.
FINALLY:
I will not visit with you again before Christmas Day. The cry of my
heart for you today is that this Christmas Day just ahead will be one of
the richest, most joyous, most rewarding, and most enriching of any you
have ever experienced. In spite of struggle, hardship, and heartache,
have a Wonderful Christmas ---- you and your loved ones, dear friend.
In His Amazing Bond of Love and Grace,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright December, 1999. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
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Hang in there! I'm with you!
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