The heavy door slides opened in the assembly room where I was having a discussion with my manager, Forrest. I turned to see Matt, without closing the door, casually walked to the assembly table where I was working a job.
It was cold outside, and I had the heater blowing. It was common for other workers to leave the door open. They know that I frowned at that, especially with the heater on.
I slowly walked past Matt to shut the door. Matt, sensing what I was about to do, quickly got ahead of me to shut the door himself as what he should have done in the first place.
Forrest said in a teasingly loud voice, “Yeah Matt was born in a barn!” I chuckled with him at what he said and quickly chirped in,” You know, Jesus was born in a barn”. Matt liked that and said something my deaf ears didn’t quite pick up; I think it was something about it being ok to leave doors open since Jesus was born in a barn.
Forrest jokingly shared, “Yeah, when Jesus leaves doors open and people ask him if he was born in a barn, Jesus would reply what do you mean? I am the door!”
We all chuckled at the teasing that was going on. But the thought I have lingers deep in my mind. “You know, Jesus being an open door is true. When he was on that cross and said it was finished, he gave up his spirit. The sky darkened, and the ground shook violently. The curtain to the holies of holies, God’s throne room, was ripped open from top to bottom, making accessibility to God wide open.”
The room fell silent, everyone drawn into the narrative with quiet reverence. We all nodded, reflecting on the impact of what Jesus had done.
The image of a newborn baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, surrounded by animals and shepherds, was powerful and moving. It’s not just the setting that’s significant. Jesus being born in a barn symbolizes that He is accessible to everyone, regardless of their status or wealth. It’s as if He was saying, ‘I am here for all of you, no matter who you are or where you come from.'”
The connection between that humble birth and the broader message of Jesus’ life became clearer. The barn was not just a backdrop but a symbol of inclusivity and openness. It was a doorway through which anyone could enter, free from barriers or pretensions.
And in a very thorough way, Jesus is like an open door to the Father. He came into this world not to close off access but to open it wide, to invite everyone into a relationship with God. His birth in a barn is a sign that no one is excluded from His love and grace.
And so, a simple conversation in that room became a profound experience, reminding us that even in the most ordinary settings, we can find extraordinary meaning. The story of Jesus’ birth, shared among colleagues, became a beacon of hope and connection, an open door inviting us all to step through.