Authentic Jesus #5
Why Did God Choose a Manger?
Reading: Luke 2:1–20
I recently saw that a Instagram-famous rapper live-streamed her son’s birth on the social media platform. The event was watched by more than 300,000 people. The birth of Jesus was seemingly less spectacular by modern standards. While, yes, there was a company of angels, the only people that saw these were some shepherds. Jesus was born while most people were sleeping and laid in a manger; a feeding trough for animals.
The story of the birth of Jesus begins in a very lackluster way; talking about taxes and travel arrangements.
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” (Luke 2:1–5, ESV)
This introduction is a far cry from the great introductions that we have come to anticipate from epic tales. There is no “once upon a time” or “it was a dark and stormy night.”
But, of course, that’s just the point. This is not a fanciful yarn that master storyteller is weaving; it is a true story that took place in history, so it reads that way. Luke is giving us the historical setting and explaining why a couple from Nazareth happened to be in the city of Bethlehem, where the Messiah was prophesied to be born.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2, ESV)
But something unexpected happened. Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem and couldn’t find a place to stay.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7, ESV)
The reason I say this is unexpected is because prophets had been foretelling the coming of the Messiah for thousands of years. There was even a whisper of the event in the garden of Eden. God spoke the following words to the serpent:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, ESV)
Imagine if this year’s Academy Awards was announced to be the biggest in history. The top A-List celebrities were going to be in attendance in record numbers. Then, at the last moment, it was discovered that no one ever booked a venue for this highly anticipated event.
This is how the story of Jesus’ birth feels:
The biggest event in human history; the King of heaven is coming to earth.
But no one booked a venue…
…not even a hotel room.
But that is not really what happened. The manger was deliberate, and in the next few verses we see why.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8–12, ESV)
Did you catch those words, “unto you is born…a Savior?” Not “unto Mary” or “unto Joseph,” not even “unto Israel.”
Unto you.
Jesus is laid where anyone can come to Him, because anyone can come to Him. No doors, no walls, no reservations. This was the proclamation of the heavenly army:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 8:13–14, ESV)
This is what Jesus has come to do; to bring us peace with God. The Bible tells us that our sins have separated us from a relationship with God, but Jesus has died and risen again to restore our relationship with God if we will follow Him as Lord.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10, ESV)
So how should we respond to the manger?
When the shepherds heard that a Savior had been born, they did three things: they went, they witnessed, and they worshipped.
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:15–20, ESV)
- So if don’t know Jesus, you can come to Him today. No matter what has happened in your past, there has been born to you a Savior.
- If you do know Jesus, then tell someone else. Jesus has come! It is good news that the world needs to hear!
- Above all, God deserves to be worshipped and glorified. In his love He sent his Son Jesus to make a way for us to have a restored relationship with Him. Praise the Lord.
Live for Jesus.