The Manger!

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2

The birth of our Lord and Savior was anything but what we would expect for the birth of a king. It came on a starry night, in a stable, surrounded by animals, shepherds, wise men, and two very inexperienced parents. The bed of the Savior was anything but comfortable as He laid his sweet head in a manger.

The word, manger, comes from a Latin word for chew or eat. It refers to a trough where donkeys and cattle come to eat. It is cold, damp and unsanitary.

The manger that held our Lord as a baby was dirty. I know Mary and Joseph did their best to clean it and somehow pad it for their baby, but the fact remains it was a feeding trough for slobbering animals. Jesus laid in a cold feeding trough and not a royal bed.

God arranged the years leading up to the birth to fulfill the scripture in Micah 5:2. He had the most powerful leader of the day order a census which would bring all the characters in His drama to the city of Bethlehem on the same night. I hear people say constantly during this pandemic, “What in the world is God doing? Why doesn’t He get involved?” If we think He’s not involved in all that goes on in this world, think again. He has and is putting the pieces together exactly as He wants them.

He organized the birth of Jesus carefully. He had the angel appear to the shepherds to declare, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 Then He clarified the announcement by adding a sign so there would be no mistake. The sign was the manger: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Luke 2:12 If the shepherds and wise men found a baby in a manger, He was the king.

In the announcement, God uses three words to describe Jesus: Savior, Christ, and Lord. The words Savior implies that He will deliver us from our enemies. The word Christ implies He is the Messiah. The word Lord implies authority and power.

For God to use a manger to introduce His son to the world has a symbolism of its own for me. Animals could always approach the manger anytime day or night and there would be food there. The farmer was careful to always have the manger filled for them. The infant Jesus came to be sure His people are always fed. No one needs to be afraid to come to His manger for there will always be food for our souls there, He is the bread of life.

Throughout his life, Jesus used the manger of His humble beginnings to feed those who followed Him with healing, teaching, miracles, and finally the gift of eternal life.

As we approach the manger this Christmas, let’s not forget the humble beginnings of our Lord and Savior who came as a babe, yet lived to be King of Kings.

Merry Christmas!

Away in a Manger no crib for His bed; The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. Martin Luther

Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child; Holy Infant so tender and mild; Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent Night, Holy Night, Son of God, Love’s pure light; Radiant beams from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts, sing Alleluia; Christ the Savior is born; Christ the Savior is born. Franz Xaver Gruber