The Craddle and the Cross
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1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 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, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 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.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
In the Christmas story there are many familiar characters.
Mary and Jospeh, riding into Bethlehem on what we imagine to be a Donkey…anxious and desperate looking for a place to stay the night.
The Magi—The Wise Men—following the Star from far away lands to find the King they had come to worship.
We even know something about the animals…the donkeys and the Ox that are often featured in the Christmas cards that we send. (Even though they are never mentioned here…)
We know about the story of the Shepherds, while they were keeping watch over their flock by night...
But the most famous scene of all, is the Manger…And its for good reason...
3 times in this story that Luke tells, we hear about the Manger...
Luke 2:7 “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.”
luke 2:12 “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
luke 2:16 “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”
This word…Manger…it literally means “feed trough.”
Let this land on you for a moment…the God of Heaven came to earth and the place where he laid down his head wasnt a crib fixed for a King…but a feed trough fit for a cow
Let’s be honest for a minute...
I mean…couldnt God have done better? Couldnt God have at least been born somewhere that was a little more sterile?
The answer of course is…sure…he is God after all… He is the one who spoke the universe into existence…im sure if he wanted His Son to be born at Baptist Hospital, He could have made the arrangements...
But that isnt what God had planned…God’s plan was this…the dirty and downtrodden manger.
Why?
Sure…it was to fulfill the prophecy the shepherds heard from the angel…no doubt.
But I think it is more significant than that...
The God of the Universe chose this way....He chose to step down from heaven and laid himself in the muddy cradle to show that he was coming to invade the muck and mire of human beings.
Jesus didnt come for the sterile and the clean…he came for those who were dirty and sin sickened.
And this cradle gave way to the cross...Where Jesus layed down his life for those that are dirty with sin.
In the Cradle—Jesus jumped down into the cesspool. And on the Cross—Jesus died to lift sinners up out of the muck and mire of sin.
The Craddle and the Cross tell the same story...that salvation is free and avaliable for all who believe.
That God came to enter into the brokeness of the world that he might redeem it.
That God was born for sinners…and died for sinners…that we might experience His love, joy, and peace…and that we would have hope.
And so as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper this evening…I want to invite all those that have place their faith and trust in Jesus to partake of these elements. To remember this truth: that Jesus came by way of the dirty cradle…and offered up his body…and poured out his blood…on the cross…so that dirty sinners could be washed clean.
That’s Christmas…its the cradle…that gives way to the cross.
Let’s Pray