Thomas, Miriam, and Esther were three children that lived in the town of Bethlehem. Thomas was about 10 and his sisters were 7 and 5. These 3 children belonged to an innkeeper. Their dad was always busy and expected them to help with keeping the inn clean. In just a few days the inn would soon be crowded. Because, “…It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed (and this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.” Luke 2:1-3 (KJV)
“There,” said Thomas, “my work is done, it feels good to rest. I wish father would be a merchant man like Rachel’s dad. He’s always busy, but people come and go, they don’t stay very long in one place, like they do here at the inn. I wish father was anything but an innkeeper. It’s been a long day, come on Miriam and Esther let’s go to the old stable. Soon it will be time for the animals to come in for the night. We can fix the hay in the manger where the animals eat and we can talk with each one like we usually do. It doesn’t seem like work, like having to dust and sweep the floors in the inn. The animals never seem to mind if we don’t have the hay fixed just right, where in the inn, we have to have everything just perfect, otherwise some people are bound to complain.”
Oh look! Here comes Rachel and her parents. They are early. Perhaps, her father will visit the marketplace. The children and Rachel were glad to see each other. Tonight Rachel and her family would sleep in the inn. Their journey has been long, for they had walked the dusty road from Jerusalem.
Usually, our inn was peaceful, but not these days. Even in my sleep, I would hear father calling me. “Thomas, help the guests with their bags.”
Rachel, quietly said to her friends of the innkeeper, “this place is a relief from all the noisy people we have been traveling with for the past days. We met a new boy. His name is Nathaniel. Here he comes now.”
Nathaniel began to speak, “I like crowds. How I would have liked to have gone on farther to the market place with the men. I could have learned so much more about the Messiah which is to come. The men talk about the Roman oppressor and his taxes, temple affairs, stories of our forefathers and other affairs for men to know.”
“Nathaniel, you are not a grown man and yet you want to know all these things?” said Miriam.
“Yes,” said Nathaniel, “Let’s pretend I am the rabbi of the synagogue. I will be the rabbi and you can be my pupils. Girls don’t go to the rabbi to learn, so we will pretend that you are boys and we will give you boy’s names. Esther, you can be Isaac; Miriam, Aaron; Rachel can be Joseph and Thomas, and I’ll be Rabbi Levi. All of you sit around me.
Now boys, I am going to read to you from the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 9:2,6). Now let me hear you all repeat these words.”
Nathaniel continued to talk. It seemed Nathaniel knew many things from the grown up men about the coming Messiah. Nathaniel said, “The Messiah will come. When, no one knows. Perhaps, next year or next century, but He will come. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Messiah would come while we are alive?”
“I suspect a lot of people long dead have wished the same thing,” said Thomas.
“Well,” said Esther, enthusiastically, “He could. He might even come this year or month, or even tomorrow!”
“Thomas, Thomas,” that was father calling him.
“I must go,” said Thomas.
Nathaniel said, “While Thomas is gone let me tell you about David. He was the great king of Israel.”
“In the inn, some travelers were satisfied to stay in the stable with the animals, for the night,”said Thomas.
“Why, who would want to stay in that old place?” said Miriam. “I wouldn’t want to be where the animals were doing their business off and on all night. It would be a smelly place by morning.”
“They were tired from their journey and the lady is not feeling well. So father told them that it would be better than nothing, if they wanted to stay, as every place in the inn was filled, even the floor space,” said Thomas.
That night there were no sirens blowing, or commotion of people running here or there, but there was at this time, shepherds entering Bethlehem. They had been out on the hillside watching their sheep, when they were greeted by angels in the sky saying…
“Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with he angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:10-14)
“Could this baby be the Messiah?” said Nathaniel. “Could God have sent the Messiah tonight? Praise God the Messiah has come.”
From the author…
This is the beginning of the truth of the true Messiah. Do you know that He came to seek and to save you who are lost? (“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23) Without His coming there would be no eternal hope for salvation. Do you know Christ as your Saviour? We can help you, if you would choose to have eternal life. Just let us know.
