She placed him in a manger ...
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. -Luke 2:4-7 NLT
Caesar Augustus took a census that affected the place where Jesus would be born. Do you find it interesting how one like him would be a part of the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy? As the birth of Jesus approaches I can sense a divine mosaic being painted. The angelic visits and the prophetic words are woven together into something quite amazing and beautiful. Something that transcends heaven and earth is beginning as Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth.
Growing up I did not know that a manger was a word that described a feeding trough that animals ate from. How is it that one so divine would lay his head in such a place? Why was there no other place for the King of Glory to be born? And what was it like for Joseph to play midwife and deliver the Son of God? The events of the first Christmas humble me and teach me that God is not all that concerned about where we live as much as how we live.
Bring us back to the humble manger today dear Lord and help us embrace the glory of the One born that day.
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It was Mary's first child, first pregnancy...she was so young, so innocent. But I think her mother had a long mother~daughter talk, and shared with her what to expect, the pain the pushing, being away from home to have this child. I think she packed cloths and wraps for that baby. Somewhere in those saddle bags on that donkey there was some preparation. The manger was humble, but I thinking Joseph found some clean straw and not only was the Son of God wrapped in glory...he was wrapped in human love and clean cloths. That the story according to the Gospel of Wanda. Just my thoughts as I ponder her...after having four of my own ~ all natural I love thinking about that night in the stable.
ReplyDelete"he was wrapped in human love and clean cloths"
DeleteStraight from the heart of a Mom! Love that Wanda!