“There was no guest room available for them.” We all know the story, how Joseph and Mary needed to go to Bethlehem to register for the census, despite Mary being ready to have a baby any day. God had told his people to show hospitality to sojourners – “You are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” (Deut. 10:19) Yet Mary gave birth in a stable, because “there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:7). Joseph and Mary knew what it was like to not have a place to stay, to not be welcomed, even though it was the hometown of Joseph’s ancestors. We welcome our babies into nurseries decorated with care, yet the Son of God was homeless the night he was born. I imagine it was chilly, dark, and smelled rather unpleasant in that stable.
I imagine as he grew up, his parents told and retold him the story of his birth. He could identify with those who are strangers and homeless and vulnerable, because he experienced those things himself.
Many years later, during his public ministry, he proclaimed, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him”, the King will say to some, “Come…take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you…For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:31-40)
Jesus has compassion for those who are hungry and thirsty and strangers, not only because each one was made in the image of God, but also because he experienced hunger, thirst, cold, and being a stranger himself. In love He tells us to care for those who are strangers and in need, and that when we care for the vulnerable, we are caring for and welcoming Him!
We are thankful for the opportunities we have to welcome Jesus every time we welcome a stranger into Jonathan House. And every time you give of your time or resources to help one of our residents feel at home, be safe, warm and fed, have hope, and build a stable future, you too are welcoming Jesus. We have recently welcomed five new residents and are preparing to welcome another soon.
Raphaelle experienced welcome at Jonathan House and then passed it on. In her last couple weeks before moving out, she beautifully welcomed a new resident, befriending her and showing her around town, helping her to feel at home. After she moved, we found these post-it notes on her bedroom wall, expressing her love and thankfulness for the warm welcome she received. Thank you for your part in welcoming asylum seekers, and thereby, welcoming Jesus!
Please join us in prayer for:
– our residents to experience the Prince of Peace in their hearts and lives as many of them are separated from precious family members
– our residents’ families who are struggling in their home countries
If you would like to welcome a resident:
– by volunteering, go to https://jonathanhouse.org/connect/volunteer/
– through giving, go to https://jonathanhouse.org/donate/
We are grateful that we can welcome asylum seekers and Jesus together!