Title: Jesus Lying in a Manger
Contents
Jesus lying in a manger (Luke 2:1-14)
Jesus who came to save this world, Jesus who gave up the glory of heaven and came to this world, Jesus who came to this world as the only begotten Son of God, must be born in the best place and the most prestigious place. Nevertheless, Jesus was born in a stable. Here is the wonderful heavenly secret and grace.
I. Born in a stable to show that life is a stranger.
Why did Jesus have to be born in a stable? It was to show all the people living on this earth that life is a stranger. Everyone, what kind of inn is this? It is a place where travelers stay for a while. It is a place where travelers undress for a while to go to their destination. It is in this place that Jesus was born. In other words, as the prototype of all human beings, Jesus showed that all humans are strangers. After that, look at the appearance of Jesus who lived on this earth. He did not put his eternal dwelling place on this earth. Jesus said: “Jesus said to them, Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Yes. All of our lives are just strangers on this earth. Therefore, this earth can never be the eternal dwelling place of man. It is something that must one day be liquidated and leave. Please remember that we are sojourners who live our lives looking at the heaven of our hometown.
II. He lay down in a manger to meet all the ugly and unclean.
The manger is not clean. It's messy. Dirty and smelly. This world is like a manger defiled with iniquity. Jesus Himself came to bring salvation to this world. He came to this world to save an unclean sinner like me. Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but to love sinners. Jesus does not come from a high place like a luxurious palace. The reason Jesus Christ was born in a stable and laid down in a manger was so that Jesus could meet all who wanted to meet him.
Ⅲ. He lay down in a manger to become the bread of life.
In verse 4, we can see that the place where Jesus Christ was born was Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “house of bread” in Hebrew. Why was Jesus Christ born in Bethlehem, which is called the house of bread? It is to teach that Jesus came to this earth as the bread of life. So Jesus Himself said, “I am the bread of life. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Please make only Jesus, the Bread of Life, the bread of your life.
IV. He laid down in a manger to show an example of humility.
If he, who is the very essence of God and is God the Son, does as he is, there will be no place on earth where he can be born. Jesus was born in a stable and laid down in a manger. In short, Jesus is to teach us what humility is. Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in spirit, and you will find rest for your souls." Not only did he speak, but when he entered the city of Jerusalem, he did not enter on a white horse like a triumphal general, but on a colt. In addition, Jesus himself got down on his knees and washed the feet of the disciples at the communion that he shared with them. In the name of the Lord, I pray in the name of the Lord that we too will become humble saints like Jesus, who humbly lay in a manger on this Christmas Day. -Amen-