AWAY IN A MANGER

AWAY IN A MANGER!

Luke 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:16  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

           The shepherds found a sweet earthly scene. A young mother had to resort to meager means to bed her newborn baby. A cattle feeding trough filled with straw would cradle the child. From the human perspective this contained all the sweet emotions we feel at the birth of any normal child but from heaven’s perspective “the eternal, self-communicating personality in the Godhead, passed voluntarily into the condition of humanity.” (Alexander McLaren)

           An extraordinary birth demands an extraordinary death. This child would become a man and, because he was also fully God, he would not fit comfortably into man’s fallen condition. He challenged man’s sin by simply existing. Whenever he commented upon sin the stark difference became almost unbearable and so man finally killed him in the most horrible way imaginable.

           Done! Now they were rid of him! Secure in a guarded tomb he would bother them no more and so it would remain for a full three days. But he who came voluntarily and died voluntarily also rose voluntarily. Man could not keep him dead any more than they could keep him from being born.

           Angels had announced his birth and now the disciples stand in awe as angels announce his return. “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11  We can expect Christ’s return as surely as we can review the facts of his birth, life, death, and resurrection. To doubt it would be to doubt it all.

Luke 2:34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign (a target to shoot at) which shall be spoken against.

Dear Lord, while we enjoy the soft scenes of the manger, let us not forget that you were given as a lamb to take away our sins. AMEN