by Brian Franks

Jesus is the coming King, the Messiah, the Chosen One, the very Son of God. If humans had written the story, surely this Savior would have made a big entrance — one showing His greatness and glory, a story worthy of the highest hero. Instead, we read these details, displayed in God’s Word, rather than hidden:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:18, 19).

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn (Luke 2:6, 7).

Jesus’ mother was found pregnant with Jesus, before beginning her marriage to Joseph. Oh, the scandal! Had Jesus been conceived the normal way, Mary would have been stoned by the community. If Joseph was a normal man, he would have been the key witness to testify to her unfaithfulness. Yet he opts to separate quietly so Mary would not be killed or put to shame.

Matthew 1:20 abruptly changes course. God tells Joseph of His once-in-a-universe event and that it’s OK. Mary has been faithful.

As prophesied, Jesus is born during a trip back to Joseph and Mary’s ancestral home, Bethlehem, King David’s birthplace (Micah 5:2). But a detail stands out: There is no room in the inn, so Jesus is born in a lowly barn and swaddled in an animal’s trough.

God’s plan

It’s easy to get inoculated to such details of the Christian story and move on to the nuances and doctrines that seem more important. However, we need to ensure that the details of the story still land freshly on our hearts and minds. The Messiah was not born in a royal mansion, a fancy hospital, a hotel, or even an average home. He was placed in a manger.

Why is this important, and why would Luke include it? Because His lowly birth set the stage for His ministry. Jesus was clear that He is the Savior of all — not just of the rich and privileged but of anyone who would believe (John 3:16). Jesus had a particular concern for the needy and strong rebuke for the privileged who lorded it over the poor. As a result, He made sure that all have equal opportunity to draw near to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).

These details show God’s perfect, glorious plan for the Messiah. The Savior who would bring many sons and daughters to glory (2:10), who would reconcile humanity back to the Creator, began His journey as an “illegitimate” son, born in a barn.

Exalted Servant

Why would the early Christians glory in these humiliating details? Because the truth is so much more wonderful than the potential scandal. Jesus is the Son of God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Though anyone familiar with the gospel story may shrug at such details, they fill any committed Christian with gratitude and amazement. Philippians 2:6-11 reinforces those feelings.

Here, Paul says that though Jesus was God, He became a servant, and was born “in the likeness of men.” He further humbled Himself by dying on a cross (vv.6-8). Paul then writes:

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (vv. 9-11).

Note the Father’s response. Jesus is honored above all, and all creation will bow before Him. The greatest thing we can do is to simply stand in God’s presence, in genuine awe of what He has done; overwhelmed at our sins being forgiven by Jesus’ sacrifice; serving a God who loves us so much. He paid the price to reconcile us from our sins against Him.

Laying down our lives before God, as Jesus did, we find no greater thing than knowing that the baby born in a lowly manger is Christ Jesus our Lord.

Transformation

For all his writings, for all his travels, for all his trials and boasting, for all his revelations and accomplishments, Paul drew the same conclusion:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (3:7, 8).

 The real test of this revelation is not if you agree that it would be a nice way to think or that Paul is telling the truth. The real test is that who Christ is has so changed your life that you can no longer fathom any other identity or anchor point. The fruit of belief in this radical fact of Jesus as God’s Son, born in a manger, our Savior, is transformation from being in fellowship with God every day, because of what Jesus has done. Let it be so, Lord.