The Manger (a feeding trough)

Ninth Day of Advent

Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus is, by no means, the only baby ever born into a makeshift situation and laid in a makeshift bed; a dresser drawer, an apple crate, a shopping cart, or even, I suppose, a manger. Unfortunately, in this harsh world, a baby born with no fit place to sleep is not uncommon. But Jesus isn’t just a baby. He’s God, himself, in human flesh. At least that’s how the story goes. So, why on earth would God be born into such a situation? Well, let’s think about it.

Just imagine for a moment that you are the God of all creation, and you’ve created creatures that you love. – Absurd, but it’s a thought experiment. – These creatures, however, are lost, confused, estranged from you, a terror to themselves and to their world. But every time you try to approach them, to share your love and yourself, they run away. In their sickness and confusion they interpret your concern as vengeance and retaliation, or, even worse, as a desire for them to side with you and retaliate against their fellow creatures on your behalf. What would you do? I suppose you might drown all but a few of them and start again. But likely not. Well, maybe once, but it’s just too painful a solution, and probably wouldn’t solve the problem anyway.

But here’s an idea you might consider. Suppose you took a form that they could understand, a human being like themselves for example. But, if you did, where would you be born? Well, where your people were, I guess, or in a place they all could come. A palace? No that wouldn’t do. Maybe a temple or cathedral? Still too remote. But how about a vacant field, an alleyway, a stable? I mean, who’s too poor, too sick, too shabby to come to a stable?

And so, just for the sake of love, he did just that, or so the story goes. He came to earth and entered into human life, not at the top but at the bottom. And, from there, he worked his way down to those who’d fallen well beneath the bottom. He sought to be with social outcasts: the poor, the prostitute, the “sinner”. But why would love stop even there? So, he went to die with criminals, and was buried in a borrowed grave.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

All this is unbelievable, of course. But then again, if God, just for the sake of love, made you and me and this colossal universe, why would he stop there? I wonder what else a God like this might do just for the sake of love.

Artwork - Cross Shadow - Shane Smith