“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” -Luke 2:11-12
How strange for the shepherds to hear the glorious announcement from the angels singing “Glory to God” and “Peace on earth” and then to be told where to go to find this newborn King: in a manger. Could that be right? All the glory of heaven fills the sky to announce the arrival of the long awaited Messiah, and they were told to go to Bethlehem and look among the animals because that’s where He would be.
In a feeding trough.
We are so familiar with the story, the nativity, the little sheep and little manger. The wonder and reality of the Jesus we worship as Savior and Lord being laid in feeding manger cannot be fully understood by us as it was by those present. For Mary to lay her newborn baby in an animals place. For the shepherds to be searching among the donkeys and sheep looking for their Messiah. And to find Him there! Just as the angel had said.
Jesus came into the world so that the world would know Him and believe that He was the Son of God. He came to die on a cross for the sins of all people so that whoever would believe in Him would have eternal life (John 3:16). At the time of His birth, however, it was only those who were willing to humbly sit in the lowliest place that were able to receive Him as He came into the world. It was the faith-filled shepherds who came and found Him there in the manger. It was humble Mary and Joseph who first held Him, alone and without crowds of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the newborn King. They had Him all to themselves—what an unbelievable scene that must have been.
There is real beauty in the humble beginnings of our Savior’s life on earth.
The great humility and faith of a few men and women was rewarded by a chance to participate in one of the greatest events in the history of the world! It was not because they were especially righteous or important, but God allowed those who were willing to sit in an animal pen to worship the newborn Messiah.
Let’s ask God for this faith and humility. To go anywhere as long as it leads us to Jesus. We need the same belief in our hearts as the shepherds had that caused them to hurry themselves to Bethlehem because they wanted to see Jesus for themselves! And as we seek this kind of humble faith, we will find ourselves seeing more of Jesus. And that is what we all truly seek.
If you are enjoying this Advent Devotional, you can pick up a copy of the book at our Sunday Services during the month of December or purchase your own keepsake copy of this published book by clicking below. We would also love to have you join us for our Christmas series at Redemption Church on Sunday mornings at 10am! For more information, click the links below.
