Think of Misty and Jeremy’s new baby. Just because his name is Noah, doesn’t mean Noah would float, if they would have laid him in a fish tank. Would you take your precious newborn baby and put him/her to rest in a cat dish or dog dish? No, not unless you had absolutely no other resource. So, let’s return to Bethlehem and take a look at the first bed of Jesus Christ.
Defined This Way
It’s important to define words, names, etc. This way, you can build a foundation, form a concept and provide a fuller picture of what the Scripture conveys.
Manger defined is as a trough or box of carved wood or stone construction. It is used to hold food from animals. The word manger comes from the French word “manguere”, which comes from “manducare”, meaning “chew”. Remember that word.
The Greek term in the text is “phatnay” – manger or stall, generally a feeding place.
Notice the definitions and keep in mind that this manger was not the preferred spot; it was the only spot.
Designed That Way – God is the Best designer.
It was prophetic – Isaiah 7:14; Luke 2: 12. God gave bits and pieces of the tapestry of His intent and wove them into history. Ultimately they show the person of Christ.
Luke 2: 12 tells us that this scene is a sign – you will see the baby in swaddling clothes. These were people of modest means, so they would have probably used strips of cloth to cover the baby. It would look like a mummy, but it doesn’t matter, because it is what is underneath the cloth that matters.
The word “sign” is a Greek word “semeion”, meaning “distinguishing mark to identify something.” They use distinguishing marks to help capture criminals, but these signs pointed people to the Christ. This is the same word meaning “miracle”, and truly this birth was a miracle!
The one concern with prophesy is that many regard the prophetic voice and follow the individual signs (i.e. Jesus is coming back and some groups go up on the hill in robes waiting for Him), instead of surveying the entire bed of language. The prophetic voice is not meant to exalt the sign itself, but to do what the Bethlehem star did – lead people to Jesus.
It was practical – God uses what He chooses and He’s very down to earth, so to speak.
They made room for Jesus and to make room for someone often means you have to discard other things. Jesus will not take second place.
They made do with what they had. The Bible tells us we need “to be content in whatever circumstances”. That means we are thankful and when we have that attitude, it makes us a workable vessel in the hand of God and often He gives us what we thought we lost.
They made melody within the circumstances. Imagine heaven rolling back as a scroll and the choir of heaven – who, incidentally, sing on key, and they combine with joy at this scene. Heaven and earth meet in great exultation. How would you like to be sitting next to an angel when they are singing?
Divine – His Way (it all comes down to His origination and execution).
He was born in a place where we’d be reminded of His Lordship.
Isaiah 1:3 says “….the ox knows his master and the donkey knows his master’s crib.”. The word “crib” here is the Hebrew “eva’s” from “ava’s”, meaning “to feed”. It is the equivalent of manger.
This text reminds us that the people of Israel of that day did not recognize their true Lord, anymore than the people of Jesus’ day knew Jesus was the King of King’s (“He came to His own and His own knew Him not.). Here animals teach us that they know their masters, they can often foretell storms and we could learn a lot from them.
He was born in a place to remind us of His provision. Bethlehem means “House of Bread”. It is incubator of the “Bread that came down from heaven”; bread being a staple of food in Israel. Jesus is the “Manna that came down from above”.
Consequently, we need to partake of Him – His Word. Remember, the French word for manger “manducare” means “chew”? We need to not gulp the Word of God, but eat it slowly, think about it, digest it, and take it in smaller portions. The manger reminds us that Jesus came to feed us and give us Himself. Jesus is born in a heart that makes room for Him, where the table is set and the invitation is accepted. He accepted us for who we were; we need to accept who He really is – as a babe, teacher, healer, Savior, or coming King, He is and always was the Lord of all.
I was reading about another strange place of birth. I heard about a woman who was in a flood and was washed away. She landed in a tree and ended up there for three days. She was also pregnant. Now as the water was rising, I wonder if she even knew her water broke. It was not the most convenient place, but then neither was the stall.
Just as Jesus born as a babe in this feeding place, so we were born in another tree- the tree of Calvary. There Jesus took our sins and paid the price for our willfulness. Let me again say here that Jesus will not take second place, and if we haven’t come to new life at the tree of Calvary, then we are not a true Christian.
Jesus gave birth to us on the tree of Calvary, so we could feed on His Word and recognize and follow His Lordship.
Chew on that.