Photo by Jon Carlson on Unsplash

Audio: iTunes | Spotify

“They found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.” (ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ)

Merry Christmas!

᛭ INI ᛭

What an amazing turn of events for the LORD, the Creator of the universe. Where complete and total pomp and circumstance should be expected at His arrival, the opposite is found. Oh, sure, the angels appeared to the shepherds, lowly though they were, but nevertheless when they got to Bethlehem to see “the Saviour, which is Christ, the LORD,” all they saw was “the Babe, lying in the manger.”

[The] LORD, though [He] created all, How weak [was He], so poor and small, That [He] [would] choose to lay [His] head, Where lowly cattle lately fed! (LSB-358, 9)

Yet, the amazing turn of events is all the more stark because even if 12 times 12 legions of angels were gathered, even if the earth had all kings and rulers, all “high and low, rich and poor together,” all wealth gathered as a welcome gift, even if all that were true it would not be enough.

Were earth a thousand times as fair And set with gold and jewels rare, It would be far too poor and small A cradle for the LORD of all. (LSB-358, 10)

Yet, in His mercy He condescends. He comes down.

Instead of soft and silken stuff, [He had] but hay and straw so rough On which as King, so rich and great, To be enthroned in royal state. (LSB-358, 11)

And now we see in this humility of Christ the greatest and most amazing turn of events. The LORD doesn’t crave or want what is high and glorious. He doesn’t desire sacrifice and gold and riches from mankind. He doesn’t demand obedience. (Though He is rightfully due all these things and more, and we ought to give Him such things.) No, He comes down in such a way to show where He would have His glory dwell, to show what He would sanctify, make holy, by His presence.

His being “laid…in the manger” tells you that He came to sanctify, to make holy, to make glorious what is weak and lowly, to glorify those who would never have a chance at being glorious and holy on our own—you and me! He comes not to purify a manger, but to purify our hearts by faith in Him. He came to make His holiness dwell in the lowliest of places that they might be highest.

So, He didn’t come only to sanctify Mary’s womb to be His earthly holy of holies for nine months. He didn’t come only to glorify a manger as His throne. He came for sinners, meek and lowly, poor and destitute. Where our lives, at best, are full of dry hay. There He comes to dwell, to forgive you all your sins. To make you holy and pure for Him and His use.

And just as Mary first wrapped Him swaddling clothes before the Manger, so He is brought into your heart wrapped in the swaddling clothes of His Word. That’s what the Bible is.

“Here you will find the swaddling-clothes and the manger in which Christ lies, and to which the angel points the shepherds. Simple and little are the swaddling-clothes, but dear is the treasure, Christ, that lies in them.” (Luther)

So also the simple water and Word, bread and wine and Word bear Christ, even His body and blood, to you. That Christ is yours, not only the Christ who was placed a manger, but the Christ who was crucified and placed in a tomb, yet rose three days later.

Christ brought His holiness to Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago, when He was “laid…in the manger.” Laid there for you, so also cross and tomb. Now He comes again tonight, wrapped in the swaddling clothes of His Word, to rest and dwell within your heart by faith, that He would be yours and you His, not just tonight, or tomorrow, but everyday, even forever.

[That] dearest ΙΗϹ, holy Child, Prepare[s] a bed, soft, undefiled, A quiet chamber set apart For [Him] to dwell within [your] heart. (LSB-358, 13)

Merry Christmas!

᛭ INI ᛭