Advent Journey: December 24th

© Michael Livesay-Wright

Questions and Reflections

QUESTION: Was it significant that Jesus, the Son of God was placed in a manger when He was born?

We actually don't know that Mary and Joseph went door to door asking for a place to stay with innkeeper's slamming doors in their faces. All we know is one tiny line from Luke 2, "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 2:7, ESV). There was no place for a pregnant woman to give birth inside the inn. That's all we know. And we know that when Jesus was born she laid him in a manger. Some argue that the baby Jesus wasn't even born in a "stable" but was welcomed into someone's home. Maybe it was a stranger or a distant relative. Regardless, there was no place for the baby to be placed other than a stable, which was a feeding trough for animals. To me this underscores just how dramatic this step was for God to make. Here is the God who created everything, coming down to earth to redeem His people and He doesn't come in the form of a conquering king. He doesn't come with trumpets sounding and lightning flashing. He comes through normal, messy, painful childbirth. And once the umbilical cord is cut, he's cleaned up and he's wrapped in swaddling cloths, that same God incarnate is placed in a feeding trough to sleep. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (ESV). There are, I'm sure, plenty of other reasons, and plenty of symbolism wrapped up in this moment. But it is at the very least an enormous representation of God's magnanimity and therefore His deep love for us!

QUESTION: Do you imagine there was anything extraordinary about Jesus's birth?

Sometimes we have so many stories in our imaginations that are more cultural than Biblical. We visualize a giant star hanging above a quaint wood stable. Joseph and Mary are pale skinned and wearing Renaissance garments. Everyone is peaceful. Shepherds are rushing in with all their sheep (still peaceful though) and "wise men" are bringing bejeweled cases to lay at the foot of the baby. All while angels are hovering in the air. Yes, there was a pretty stunning display of angels (more of that tomorrow), but all that Luke tells us is, "And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger." It is interesting to note that Joseph probably wasn't in the room as usually it was only women who ushered in a new baby. There may have been a midwife or a distant relative or even an older woman (or two or three) who surrounded Mary and helped usher the Son of God into the world. But the first witnesses to the newborn Jesus would have been women. If you've ever witnessed childbirth or given birth you know it isn't pretty or simple. But to these women it would have been pretty normal (having witnessed and assisted dozens or even hundreds of births). And so Jesus was likely thought of as no different. He probably cried and kicked and ate in all the usual ways. But this is anything but usual!

QUESTION: Did you notice the change in the refrain?

GOD IS HERE! It may feel almost anticlimactic. We have been waiting just as Mary had been waiting, just as the nation of Israel had been waiting, just as all of creation had been waiting, for the Promised One to finally come. And suddenly... here He is. But don't miss it. In all of it's seeming simplicity, this is an earth-shaking moment. Sin had put a seemingly hopeless barrier between man and God. He had reached through that barrier time and again to offer them hope and a way of escape (remember Noah and Moses and the prophets and the temple). But this time would be final. This time God Himself had made himself fully human, stepping into the skin of His creation. He would walk this earth, He would be among the messy, sinful people He had created, and He would save them -- us -- in a way that would be permanent and absolute. Don't miss it! He is here!