05 Apr The First Christmas

The Significance of Jesus’ Humble Birth in a Manger

As time passes, the story of Jesus’ birth in a manger can become so familiar that we forget the significance of God choosing to enter our world in a dirty stable with scratchy straw. God could have arranged for Jesus to be born in a grand palace; as the wise men assumed when they followed the star and initially visited King Herod’s palace in search of the newborn king.

But instead, after the birth of Jesus, God sent angels to announce the arrival of the Messiah. Who did they appear to? Not the people in the palace, but the shepherds tending their flocks in the fields. These sheep were likely to be used as sacrifices in the temple.

You see, it had been prophesied that someone would come and be led like a lamb to slaughter (Jeremiah 11:19; Isaiah 53:7), and Jesus was later referred to as the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Therefore, it was significant that the shepherds, whose job was to care for the lambs and sheep, were the first to learn of Jesus’ birth. He was to be the ultimate lamb for sacrifice.

God communicates with us constantly, sometimes in subtle ways and other times in Captain Obvious ways. This Christmas, the message we hope you hear from God is that He is good, and He wants to be your Forever Father.

Food for Thought: What messages are you intentionally or unintentionally conveying to others, whether subtly or obviously?

Blessings Yvette Wynne