Upper Room vs Lower Level

As we have seen, during biblical times the eating and sleeping quarters of a two story home would have been on the upper floor.  The lower level was often used as a shelter for livestock during inclement weather.  We know that Mary and Joseph were turned away because there was no room in the guest chamber (the upper room, the kataluma), but they may have been offered shelter in the lower level among the animals.  This would explain their access to a manger in which Jesus was laid.

This does raise a question of why a relative would have turned away a pregnant woman.  A possible explanation is that Mary’s pregnancy would have been considered shameful.  Mary had become pregnant before she married Joseph.  This was a sin of great disgrace. And, since betrothal was legally binding like marriage, Joseph even had the right to put Mary to death (Matthew 1:18-19) for having committed adultery. Of course, he did not because he loved her.  It was only after his decision to “put her away privately” (Mat 1:19) that an angel appeared to him and told him about the conception of Jesus.

Her pregnancy would have brought great shame upon the family.  The family, not knowing what was revealed to Mary and Joseph, would likely have thought Mary to be pregnant with the illegitimate child of Joseph (or another).  They had no way of knowing she was pregnant with the legitimate Son of God.

Rejected by His Own

Perhaps we should consider this the first instance of rejection of Jesus.  When Mary and Joseph were turned away, so also was Jesus turned away.  Even before His birth, He was rejected by His own:

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and those who were his own did not receive him.

Still Only A Theory

This theory about Jesus being born in the lower level of a house is quite possible and it’s very probable. But remember, it is still only a theory.  The Bible only tells that they were turned away from lodging in a guest chamber and that Jesus was laid in a manger.

40+ Days Later

We know that “when the days of [Mary’s] purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought [Jesus] to Jerusalem [about 10 miles from Bethlehem], to present him to the Lord [at the Temple].  (Luke 2:22)  This was more than 40 days after the birth of Jesus.  Jesus’ circumcision would have been eight days after birth (Luke 2:21) and 33 days were required for Mary’s purification (Leviticus 12).  It was only after these 40+ days that they went to the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Bible does not tell us where they stayed during those 40+ days. Perhaps, with the departure of the upper room guests, the homeowner (a relative?) may have had compassion and invited Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to move from the lower level to  the upper room.

Conclusion

I cannot stress enough, this theory is only reasoning from God’s Word.  The Bible does not tell us in what kind of shelter Jesus was born. However it’s interesting to think that at the beginning of Jesus’ life, He was turned away from an upper room because the people did not know that Mary would give birth to the Messiah.  They did not know who her child was and they would not make room for Him.  Even while still in the womb, Jesus was rejected by His own and only a faithful few came to see the newborn Christ Child.

Similarly, at the end of Jesus’ life, He gathered in an upper room with one who would reject him (Judas) and leave Him, and a faithful few (11) who knew Him and remained.  In that upper room, they shared intimate fellowship, and, after Judas’ departure, Jesus gave to the faithful 11 great revelations and bountiful blessings.  Just as Judas rejected Jesus, so also those who turned away Mary and Joseph lost the blessing of being present at the Lord’s birth.

This theory of Jesus’ birth in the lower level of a house answers many questions and raises some new ones.  But remember, if a definitive answer to where Jesus was born is of great importance for us to know, God would have told us in more explicit detail.

What is important is that God sent His son to earth, to be conceived in the womb of a young woman, to take on human form, to be born in humble surroundings, to live a sinless human life and then to present Himself the perfect Lamb of God and to finish the work His Father had sent Him to do—to take away the sins of the world.  Jesus was born to die.

Remember the sacrifice of the cross began in the cradle and without the Christmas Cradle we would not have the Calvary Cross.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us..  (Isaiah 9:6)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him..  (John 3:16-17)