Away in a Manger

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 in the hay.

I’ve sung about the manger year after year, but, for me, this Christmas the manger is a reminder of God’s extravagant grace in how he views His children.

For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV)

Imagine the Trinity in Heaven. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are perfectly happy in their complete communion. The host of angels continually singing praises to God Almighty never cease their worship. The praise is a deafening roar. Pure, blinding light of God’s glory envelops the entirety of heaven.

Who is more glorious and majestic than Almighty God?

Surely He could have placed His eternal Son-made-flesh in any location He deemed fittest. Jesus could have made his entrance in a luxurious palace, complete with attendants and servants anxiously awaiting his next request.

But, that wasn’t best.

 He could have at least been born at the inn in Bethlehem, where it would have been relatively sanitary and comfortable for both Him and Mary.

But that wasn’t best.

 What was God doing in the manger? What was the King of Heaven with thousands upon thousands of angel-worshippers doing in an animal’s trough?

Perhaps God’s purpose in the manger was to show that human labels don’t mean much to Him. Maybe the manger was meant to tear down man’s fabricated ideas of majesty.

That’s what is so beautiful to me about the manger. Jesus shows us from the very beginning that earthly circumstances are trivial when God is working His will. Many Jews were looking for a flashy Messiah-King who would relieve them of their very real painful government situation. But, God knew what they really needed. God knew what the whole world needed. God knew what you and I desperately need – salvation from our sin slavery.

God showed us that man’s labels are meaningless when He has a purpose.

Think about it. What is your reaction thinking of children born into a drug-using environment? What about those with abusive home life? What do their futures look like? What is the first thought that pops into your head when you see that homeless man huddled on the street corner all by himself? When you see that struggling family in Walmart with four sick little babies?

If you knew of a baby that had just been born, whose mom and dad put him in an animal’s trough, what would your knee-jerk response be thinking about the course of this little one’s life? Poverty, obscurity, pain, no-account?

Jesus lived that kind of life. (Isaiah 53) But, look at His kingdom now. Those temporary labels held not even a candlelight to eternity’s purpose.

Maybe you feel labeled by others. Maybe those labels are good! People tell you that you are influential, that you are smart, that your will go far in life. But, maybe those labels aren’t so good. Maybe you’ve been told that you are unwanted, that you are a failure, that you will never amount to anything, that you have it harder than most.

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1Corinthians 1:19-21)

The manger was a Great Leveler. The manger wasn’t just to show that God cares for the lowly, but really that all men are the same, regardless of manmade stickers of identification.

“For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another].” (Romans 2:11 AMP)

Be encouraged (or be humbled). Only one Person’s approval matters. Only a blood-washed heart in communion with Christ holds weight for eternity. Being His disciple is the only label that holds a true identity.

May we say with Paul…

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)

Let manmade labels we embrace be loosened from our clenched fists this Christmas, as we open our hands to the grace and freedom of being in Christ. It’s impossible to wear a robe of righteousness and chains of rejection at the same time.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – Jesus

There is freedom from manmade labels and sin’s captive chains in Jesus’ name. It is my prayer you experience Christ’s freedom this Christmas.