The Miracle in the Manger

Have you ever looked up at the night sky on a clear night and tried to count the stars. There are so many it is impossible to count them. Stars are giant, glowing balls of hot gas that produce light and heat. The vary greatly in size, temperature and distance. Our sun is just one of trillions of stars in our milky way galaxy we live in. Humanly speaking stars our innumerable, there are so many you can't count them all. The milky way galaxy that we live in is just one of billions of galaxies and it contains trillions of stars. The star nearest earth is 4.24 light years away or 25 trillion miles. To put that into perspective if you could get your hands on one of the decommissioned space shuttles and fly it to the nearest star it would take you tens of thousands of years. The bible tells us that our amazing universe was created by and is held together by that little baby in the manager.

 Colossians 1: 16-17 ESV For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

At Christmas it is not uncommon to see a cradle in a manger scene, but what do you see when you look into that cradle? It looks like a little baby boy. But who is this baby? This is God, wrapped up in swaddling clothes. The sovereign of the universe, born into the world He created. That cradle was made of wood, and filled with straw. But the One lying there is the One who said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, seeds, and trees.” And the earth, at His command, brought forth plants and trees of all types. Whether it’s a giant redwood or a little clover, He created them all. And here He is, resting on that straw, splitting time in half. His birth is so remarkable that it marked time, BC and AD. Even those who deny the existence of God and that Jesus is his Son in human form acknowledge his existence every time they use a date to mark time. Despite Christ’s tiny, human frame, let’s not think of that baby as anything less than the almighty Creator God, who spoke galaxies into existence and breathed life into man. The bible says Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The word image, meaning copy or likeness, expresses Christ’s deity. This word involves more than a resemblance, more than a representation. He is God! Although He took on human form, He has the exact nature of His Father!

Hebrews 1:3 ESV He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

God took on the human form in the humblest of manners, a manger, a feeding trough for livestock that would have been made of wood or stone in a space that was filled with livestock, dirt and most likely manure. This was our Saviors first baby crib. 

Luke 2: 6-7 ESV 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.

So as you contemplate the scenes of Christmas, recognize who it is in that manger: not just a fully human child, but in fact the Creator of all the heavens and the earth. Through faith, in Jesus you can be declared righteous in God's sight. Place your faith in this baby, the miracle in the manger!