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September 14th, 2009weird isn’t it– i’m doing a “Christmas” sermon in september. when it says in philippians about Jesus “who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant, being made in human likeness”, i can’t help pondering why the manger. for Jesus to give up the glory of heaven and come to this earth, taking on all kinds of human limitations surely would have been enough.
but it wasn’t enough. He came in the most humble of ways. it would have been absolutely fitting for Him to be born into a royal setting, but that isn’t what He chose. instead He identified with the lowliest of folks– a simple carpenter living in an out of the way little village. so i guess the question that i start the week pondering is this– God’s choice of how His Son would come to this world must be important (for He chose it), what exactly is the importance of the manger? There is definitely a message flowing out of that feeding trough. Do you have any thoughts on what it is?
Scott Rowland said:
I’ve never really looked at the birth in a manger in and of itself, but rather the bigger context - the impact on Mary and Joseph. Being a dad, I’ve always wished the Bible said more about Joseph. Here’s a guy that must be stressed out having to drag his very pregnant wife on a long trip, they’re tired, there’s no room anywhere (at least on a carpenter’s salary), and they have to settle for a barn of all places. And lo and behold, the most amazing gift in history happens. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. I like the thought that when I think my life is falling apart through job loss, hard times etc., it pales in comparison to Joseph’s situation.
I also find it interesting that although I have no idea what a manger looked like back then, I think of a simple big wooden barn - the kind a carpenter would build. I wonder if Joseph ever had one much like the one in Bethlehem at his home in Nazareth. Are there some spiritual parallels there between Jesus’s heavenly father and earthly one? Maybe, I’d have to stew on it a bit, but it’s interesting nonetheless.
Muffy Tarcold said:
Hm. I had more to say about the idea that he was born in a stable (because the world has no room for Him) but the specific question of a manger sent me googling. I found it interesting that the “gospel” of Thomas cited Jesus as referring to the Pharisees as a “dog in a manger” - Someone who has a dog-in-the-manger attitude has something of value that he cannot or will not use himself but which he won’t let anybody else have either. Did Jesus occupy the manger to supplant the religious leadership and allow us access to that which the Pharisees would not?
Tyanne Sylvestre said:
The Manger. Its a feed trough for animals. Myself being due to have a newborn in a few days I wouldn’t think of putting my baby in a feed trough, forget the barn part of it. I grew up on a farm. Disgusting. But I guess that was just the point. God/Jesus began his life breaking all the rules. Not just for rebellion’s sake but to prove a point. To me it states, not that God is so dumb He doesn’t know where to sleep a baby, but that ALL of the values that culture (from then to now) holds dear, may not be as important as we’ve always thought. They may not be important at all. If He is God, Creator of all the universe, and he is willing to come to us in such a humble form, who are we to think that must have things (whatever those things are, theology, material things, religiosity, etc) the way we think they should be. This is the point, ( or could be the point ) God did not come to make things the way we’ve determined they should or should not be. He is God. He will do as He sees fit.
terrysharbaugh said:
Thanks all for the comments. All week I’ve been asking God, “there’s a message in this story that’s bigger than a manger….what is it?” God’s used y’all (that’s a plural “you”) to help answer that.
ts
Racquel said:
Let’s deal first with the stable where our Lord Jesus was born. The stable represents a “refuge” where animals can take shelter and be protected against the harsh elements of nature. Our Lord Jesus used the stable for His birthplace because He is our “refuge” against all kinds of odds, trials, and sufferings.
Now, we go to the manger. The manger is a feeding trough where food is placed for the animals who take refuge in the “stable”. The manger is just like a big plate. Our Lord Jesus said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry. (John 6:35)
When Jesus was laid in the manger, He was representing the “bread” placed in a “plate”, for those who take “refuge” in Him, may partake of the “bread” which is His body.
I think the reason why the Lord did not come to earth in royal setting, was because He did not want to have “ready made” followers. “Ready made” followers means servants, advisers, friends, etc. If you are royal, it is easy for you to convince people to follow you. Jesus want people to follow Him because they “believe” and have faith in Him, not because of His power as royal.
Also, if you are royal, you must have servants around you. Jesus did not come to be “served” but to “serve”. So He did not come as royal, so that He can serve and not to be served.
Christians also should “serve” and not wait or long to be “served”.