20/12/2024
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE MANGER OF BETLEHEM
One of the most prominent decorations we see during the Christmas season in our homes, churches, schools, offices and even in commercial establishments is the manger. Even one of our favorite Christmas carols has this item for its title, “Away In An Manger”. The manger is always the centerpiece in all typical nativity scenes that depict a cozy, serene, and immaculate aura. This representation of the nativity however, is a stark digression from the harsh reality of our Savior’s actual birth scene. We learn from history and tradition that stables in first century Israel of which the manger is an integral part, were usually dark, damp and dirty caves crowded with unwashed, smelly herded animals like cows, goats, sheep and donkeys. Noise of mixed animal sounds fill the urine and manure contaminated air of these damp caves. The manger in such a stable was usually a block of dirty rock carved out in the center leaving a low bottom and sidings to accommodate the hay being fed to the animals. Rodents also infest them as they feasted on whatever food left over by the herd who fed in it. Hence, the manger is the most unsanitary fixture to lay a newly born baby in. So, for the first century people in Israel, the manger was a very common and insignificant almost a repulsive item in their consciousness that was not worth speaking of or looking at.
How come, the manger, with all its unwholesome ordinariness has been elevated to such a place of eminence in our awareness today? How has it attained such a striking transformation from being a neglected ordinary rural fixture to a centerpiece adornment in humanity’s grandest celebration. We find the answer in the Scriptures itself. Luke 2:11-12 says: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
This insignificant manger had been used as a bed for the newborn Savior of the world, Jesus the Messiah. So this Manger of Bethlehem rose from being common to great because as the words of another favorite Christmas carol says, it “… cradles a King”.
Hence, the manger is a symbol that reminds us of what the presence of Christ can do in the lives people that He touches. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new".
When we allow Jesus to really permeate us to the core by believing and accepting Him as our Lord and personal Savior, He brings about amazing transformation in our lives. Some people fail to realize this because they would rather rely on their own abilities. That is exactly what the Scriptures warn us against in Proverbs 3:5-6 which says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” With Christ at the helm of our lives, we are assured of His loving empowerment like the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".
No matter how weak, inferior and ordinary sinful people we may be, if we genuinely and faithfully entrust everything to Him, His presence in our lives shall make use of our weaknesses to accomplish great things for His Glory. Remember the song “Ordinary People?” There is a line in it that says “…little becomes much as we place it in the Master’s hands”.
This Christmas, let us allow the presence of Christ to transform us anew. Let us offer our hearts to be His manger. Let us cradle the King in our hearts forever! – gmm12.21.2024
