Arrival in a Manger

Luke 2:6–7 ESV

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 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.

Why the Manger?

The Son of God, creator of the universe, Second Person of the Trinity—should He have been born in a Palace? A general’s estate? Should He have been born among the aristocracy, or royalty?

God chose for His Son to be born in a manger—an animal’s feeding troff.

Why did God choose the manger?

With the manger—everything points to poverty, obscurity and even rejection.

There was no place for Mary and Joseph in the inn.

The manger is rich with illustration of the human condition and of God’s intention.

God chose a manger to illustrate the poverty—the absolute bankruptcy of humanity.

Why is humanity bankrupt? Sin.

Sin robs us of our identity—we were created in the image of God.

Sin separates us from God—in fact—sin drives us away of wanting to know and honor God in fellowship.

When Jesus was laid in the manger by Mary—that manger demonstrated the moral and spiritual depletion of the human condition.

Romans 3:23

God chose a manger to demonstrate the purpose of the “Word becoming flesh.”

The Son of God would met humankind at there level.

Jesus would experience the affect of the human condition:

Pain.

Hurt.

Rejection.

Temptation.

Loneliness.

Misunderstanding.

Hebrews 4:15

God chose a manger to point toward Christ’s purpose: to be the Sacrifice that would pay the penalty of sin.

Most likely that manger was used by the lambs destined to be sacrifices at the Temple.

Jesus was born to die—the plan of God was to rescue mankind (all who would believe) by having the sin of the world be placed upon him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Conclusion

Why is the manger important for you and me?

I need to recognize my spiritual poverty.

I need to seriously appreciate what Jesus went through in identifying fully with humankind.

I need to believe with my whole being that Jesus became my Sacrifice—paying my penalty of sin that I committed.

.

God loves each and every one of the us. He wants fellowship with us. God has provided salvation for all who would believe.