The Humble Manger

     And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She
     wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
     because there was no guest room available for them.
                                                             (Luke 2:7)
 
“Away in a Manger” is one of the most popular hymns we sing at Christmastime. This sweet, tender song is often one of the first Christmas carols that children learn and are able to sing:

     Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
     the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
     the stars in the sky looked down where he lay
     the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
     The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
     but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
     I love thee Lord Jesus; look down from the sky
     and stay by my cradle until morning is nigh.

The hymn creates a serene, peaceful picture of baby Jesus sleeping on the hay, laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. But when we stop to consider these familiar words, we realize that the scene is actually quite odd, isn’t it? The Son of God is sleeping in a feeding trough surrounded by animals. It just doesn’t add up. This does not seem to be the best place for a newborn baby, let alone this baby–the Christ Child, God’s own Son, the Savior of the world.  Certainly God could have orchestrated more appropriate circumstances. Why didn’t Mary give birth in a nice, clean palace or the home of a local dignitary–anywhere to send a message that this child was special, that he deserved recognition and praise?

God could have made Jesus’ birth a national event, but that was not God’s plan. From the start, God wanted to set the stage for Jesus’ reign. In The Wonder of Christmas we read, “The manger was a harbinger of Christ’s entire ministry. It spoke volumes about the way the Sovereign Ruler of the universe intended to win back lost children–not by overwhelming us with might but winning us with love.”

God did not go to such lengths to send a Son to earth so that we would be his loyal subjects, devoted to him because of his great power. God did not move heaven and earth to sit on a throne and cause everyone to jump to attention at the wave of his hand. No, our God wanted more; God wanted relationship–to restore the relationship that once was with God’s creation before sin entered the world. So God used a mighty power to send Jesus to defeat sin and death once and for all.

The manger was only the beginning. During Jesus’ ministry, he encountered people who desperately wanted him to become their earthly king, and he showed them that he had a different way. We see this illustrated in Jesus’ encounter with a vulnerable woman in John 8:

     And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the
     morning he returned to the temple. All the people
     gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them.
     The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught
     in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, they
     said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act
     of committing adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded
     us to stone women like this. What do you say?” They said
     this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an
     accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on
     the ground with his finger.

     They continued to question him, so he stood up and
     replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first
     stone.” Bending down again, he wrote on the ground.
     Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning
     with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were
     left in the middle of the crowd.

     Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are
     they? Is there no one to condemn you?”

     she said, “No one, sir.”

     Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from
     now on, don’t sin anymore.”
                                                    (John 8:1-11 CEB)

The Pharisees set up this encounter because they wanted Jesus to explode in an expression of righteous power, showing himself strong; but instead Jesus offered the woman compassion and mercy–a far greater strength than they were capable of themselves. Indeed.

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
and His tender mercies are over all His works.
                                                  (Psalm 145:8-9 NKJV)

By coming down and resting in a humble manger, God shows how to lead in a different way. God wants to show tenderness to us in the midst of great power and might. Why? Because God loves us so.

Prayer Focus
How do you respond to the knowledge that God wants to lead you with tenderness and mercy? How is God speaking tenderly to you today?

From Rob Renfroe and Ed Robb, The Wonder of Christmas: Devotions for the Season