And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. [Luke 2.6-7]
It would seem, even though prevailing modern thought considers otherwise, that Jesus' manger nursery was really no big deal. The Gospel's matter-of-fact mention of Jesus being laid in a manger should probably be considered no more significant (in modern equivalence) than to have a humble double-bed room in the hospital instead of an exclusive single-bed room.
Likewise, in the same context of Jesus' birth story, the angel of the Lord appeared and announced Jesus' birth to lowly shepherds staying out in the fields...
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! [Luke 2.8-11]
Why wouldn't the king of glory be announced to the religious elite instead of shepherds?
The shepherds were staying in the fields - there was no extravagant lodging for them either! So, when the angel told them where to find Jesus, in a manger, something of great spiritual significance was taking place:
And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” [Luke 2.12]
The shepherds would recognize Jesus as one of them, not staying in extravagant uppity lodging, but in a manger - something every shepherd would, no doubt, have been very well-acquainted with. It is not at all unlikely that each and every one of those shepherds' nursery was very similar if not, in some cases, exactly the same place as Jesus'!
The significance of Jesus' original nursery being that of a shepherd and not as a "religious elite" is a picture worth a thousand words that only God could have painted. Jesus came to lead us (shepherd us) to God. Sheep cannot be driven - they must be led.
Mmm. Stop and ponder this a while...
Father, there aren't enough words to describe all that Jesus' humble beginnings says to us. May we always remember that what we read about Jesus in the Gospels will always tell us more - the more we look. May we never forget that Jesus' life on earth was that of a shepherd showing us the Way. So be it!
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