A What?
The other day, I had a conversation with a long-time friend. She told me she had been looking to purchase a manger for her Christmas Nativity Set. The salespeople she asked didn’t know what a manger was, let alone how it fit into Christmas!
As I write this post, even Grammarly doesn’t recognize the word manger! How sad is that?
A Manger
A manger is a place to feed animals. Quite an unlikely place for Jesus to be born. Or was it?
A manger.
It is not pretty.
Under the shelter of a roof, a piece of wood lies in a barn or stable.
It may or may not have raised legs and is filled with hay or slop.
In the wintertime, back in the day, it was common for people to bunk in with their animals to stay safe and warm, like a giant slumber party with your furry friends.
manger
Merriam Webster Dictionary
ˈmān-jər
NOUN
a trough (see trough sense 1a) or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or fodder for livestock.
A Baby in a Manger
Can you imagine a baby in a manger?
It would be utterly appalling to some to see a newborn in an unsterilized, dirty, filthy trough used to feed animals. Yet, some might see this scene as a sign of great awe and wonder.
Think about this.
The God of the Universe chose a stable filled with animal creatures to welcome his Son. This was the ultimate sacrifice and message of love and humility. God sent his Son for…
Every. Single. Person. On. This. Planet. Rich. Or. Poor.
Scripture isn’t clear whether animals were or were not present at the birth of Christ. Let’s imagine for a moment that they were. What would it have been like for the animals witnessing the birth of Jesus? Sure, they had seen cows, horses, and pigs give birth, but a human? How divine! Just like God saved the animals from dying in the Great Flood, God blessed the animals as witnesses of this most sacred event.
The Miracle of the Manger
The true meaning of Christmas may have evaporated from some of the fabric of our society. Yet, some of us know, this “living water,” was a miracle.
The most perfect baby in the world was born in a lowly manger. Jesus, born in a manger. The same Jesus who fed 5,000. The same Jesus who feeds our soul. This Jesus, was born in a manger made with the purpose of feeding animals, can feed you, too!
His name was, is, and will be forever, Jesus.
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.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.
Author (attributed to): Martin Luther; Author (st. 1-2): Anonymous (1885); Author (v. 3, attr.): John T. McFarland (1892)
I and Thou Reflections 