Thanks for the Manger
“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
“When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which they were told them by the shepherds.
“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” Luke 2:15-20
We don’t typically think about the manger except during the Christmas season when cards and films show a lovely, clean barn with straw on the floor and a clean wooden, shaped manger covered in clean straw or with some type of cloth.
Yet, a typical first-century, Bethlehem house was built of stacked fieldstone, often against or over an existing limestone cave. A family would live within this shelter on a slightly raised, packed-earth or plastered floor.
There would be an area a step or two down, nearer the door for the animals, that was the ‘stable’. It was not a separate shed or barn. At night the family would bring their animals in for warmth and safety… perhaps a donkey, a milk goat or a few sheep would crowd in.
The manger was just their feeding trough, about three feet long, carved out of limestone. It was rough, cold and coated with the faintly sour smell from the feed and animals slobbering as they chewed …and the waste at their feet.
The manger would sit on the floor along a wall or at the edge of the raised living area floor so the larger animals could eat. Light would be dim and from one small oil lamp.
It would not be quiet or peaceful because household sounds would mix with animals stamping and snorting. There was nothing glamorous or sweet about a manger. It was the lowest, working part of an ordinary home. And here Jesus was born and lay waiting to grow up and fulfil His destiny for our sakes. How wonderful is our Saviour!!
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Take care with love, especially His, from Darlene, who still prays for you each day.
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NOTES: I choose to believe the Bible because it's a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They reported supernatural events that took place before, of specific prophecies; and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.
The Five Solas: Individuals are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone to the glory of God alone!
Find my full statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of Bible studies). For the books, go to Amazon books. For prayer requests/ updates, email: darlenerichard@gmail.com