December 23: The Manger
Away in a manger
No crib for a bed
The Little Lord Jesus
Lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky
Look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
Have you ever considered the irony of the manger? It’s such a crazy juxtaposition. First, there’s a baby.
If you’ve ever been around a newborn, you’ll know just how small they are. They weigh only a few pounds, their little eyes can barely stay open, and they smell like happiness and cuteness and baby soap. They’re the textbook definition of vulnerable, relying on their mothers for life, passed around from arm to arm; treasured and tenderly taken care of.
Jesus was a baby just like that. He laid in that manger (a feeding trough for the animals, likely holding hay) and breathed, cried, and wiggled. His parents looked at Him adoringly and He had to be swaddled to keep out the chill of the elements.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and [Mary] 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 2:6–7
But, simultaneously, the earth was flipped on its axis. The presence of God, in man, was entering into the world. That little baby was God! Conqueror, Creator, King, and Savior.
Think about it! Jesus would go on to defeat sin, death, and the grave. He would die on the cross, be resurrected, then ascend into Heaven. Today He sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us. What power! What majesty!
But how do we reconcile conqueror Jesus with sweet baby Jesus? That’s the beauty of the gospel! God often moves and works in unexpected ways. Paul describes it like this:
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
1 Corinthians 1:27
To a world in need of drastic rescue, God sent a baby in a manger. It doesn’t make sense! But, deep in our bones, it aligns perfectly with who we know our God to be. We know He can make something out of nothing. We know He desires to identify with us, the most vulnerable. We know He loves an underdog. We know He can use weakness and turn it into strength.
Today, we invite you to reflect on the irony of that manger–the beautiful juxtaposition of the mighty power and tender beauty of our Savior. Perhaps, God is using the tender, weak, and vulnerable parts of you for something big, mighty, and earth-shaking. Maybe the manger moments in your life are paving the way for an empty tomb.
God, have your way!
Pray: Lord, thank you for the beauty of the manger.
Further Study: Grab some context on the verse we read from 1 Corinthians by reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. How does that broaden your understanding of today’s topic?
Interact: It’s almost Christmas! Share with the community below what you are most looking forward to over the next few days of this holiday season.
