“And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

We need never wonder where we’ll find Him.

“And this shall be a sign unto you.”

You would have thought this “one-of-a-kind” Son of God would have been born on satin sheets in a palace with marble floors and columns, a bevy of servants attending to his every need, etc. He was/is the Son of the King of kings, wasn’t/isn’t He?

Assuredly He was/is.

Why, then, did He allow Himself to be born in a lowly cattle’s trough, covered with straw, in a stable most likely tucked away in a small cave? Why was there no entourage of government officials to greet Him. . .a parade for Him down through the streets of Bethlehem. . .an “Invitation Only” banquet for the “rich-and-famous” to welcome His arrival, etc.?

Simply because “And this shall be a sign unto you.”

At first glance it would seem this was given to help the poorly-paid shepherds find the Babe, Who would be “a Savior, which was Christ the Lord” (v.11). This “City of Bread,” which lay five miles south of Jerusalem at an elevation of around 2,550’, wasn’t a large city back then or now.

Thus, you’d think it wouldn’t be hard to find a crying newborn baby in the wee hours of the morning. And, most likely, the shepherds thought the further details (“a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”) helped narrow their search even more—a sort of “signpost,” if you will.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined. . .for unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given. And, the government shall be upon His shoulder—and His Name shall be called ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace’.”

Isaiah 9:2, 6

He’s the Epitome and Supreme Expression of versatility and multi-tasking.

Jesus.

Like a multifaceted diamond held up to the light, there’s much more there than meets the eye at first glance. Just when you think you’ve grasped it and know Him, He appears in ways you’ve never seen before. . .revealing a side of Himself you’d never known. . .acting in ways you’d never experienced before.

When Isaiah recorded today’s Manna some 700+ years before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, there was no way for him to know how the Coming Promised/Anointed One would fulfill his prophecy. But, in hindsight and diligent Bible study, we begin to realize this “Sent One” from God would be everything (and more) that the aged prophet foresaw.

Who are these “people that walked in darkness”?

It’s everyone who’s ever walked the face of this earth. Because of our “union with Adam” (I Cor. 15:21-22) we’re sinners by nature and by choice. Like Adam, we choose the forbidden fruit instead of “the Tree of Life” and are, therefore, “blinded by the evil one” (II Cor. 4:4) and “taken captive by him at his will” (II Tim. 2:26).

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people—for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord’.”

Luke 2:10-11

He’s all we’ll ever need. . .and more.

That night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Heaven truly came down to earth. Only an all-knowing, all-loving God could have prescribed His coming the way He did: Being born in a lowly stable. . .in a straw-strewn manger. . .surrounded by livestock and poor, peasant shepherds . . .yet His Birth announced by the angel of the Lord and a “heavenly host praising God” (v. 13).

Yes, only the one, true and living God of Abraham could have done that.

And, aren’t you glad He did? Glory!!

When the angel announced Jesus’ birth to the poorly-paid shepherds that night, he turned their worlds upside down. They were “rent-a-shepherds,” who worked for minimum wage. And, little did they suspect that night as they watched over the sleeping sheep that their lives would be radically changed before the next sun dawned.

Look at the angel’s declaration to them:

“Fear not.” Isn’t that just like the One Who said “Let not your heart be troubled” (Jn. 14:1, 27) and who calmed the wind and the waves by saying “Peace, be still” (Mk. 4:39)? Assuredly it is. And, this same God reminds us that He has not “given unto us a spirit of fear; instead, He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7).

“And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger—because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7

When the world seems so cold and cruel, just remember there’s One Who understands.

“Because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Oh how sharp the sting of slight and rejection! Oh how barbed others’ nasty nouns, venomous verbs and acrid adjectives/adverbs can be at times! But, today’s Manna reminds us the same One Who loved us enough to die for us on the Cross is the same One Who’s been “tempted in every way we have, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:14-16). Hallelujah!!

There’s no way the innkeeper and those trying to check in could keep from noticing that Mary “was great with child” (v.5).

She was nine months’ pregnant. Her stomach was as big as a bowling ball or small watermelon. Even now we can see her wincing in pain as she gets off the back of the burro and waddles into the inn’s foyer, Joseph holding onto her arm.

But, sadly, no one seemed to notice. Or care.

They’d seen pregnant women before. And, it’s very likely there were other pregnant women in Bethlehem that day because of Caesar’s required census and taxation.

“And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”

Luke 2:6

In God’s Providence there are no coincidences or accidents.

“And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”

Luke 2:6
“The days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”

Here they were. . .hundreds of miles from home. . .in an overcrowded, “no-room-in-the-end” city. . .and the labor pains start. They were afraid this would happen when they left Nazareth headed to Bethlehem for the required census and taxation.

But, inwardly they’d hoped God would wait.

Wait until they’re at least back home in their own house. Wait until they were back with family and friends, who could assist them in their delivery and be there to rejoice with them when the Promised Child was born. Wait until Mary could give birth in her own bed and have others help her with the household chores.

But, it didn’t happen that way. Even as things so often don’t happen as we expected or inwardly desired.

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem—(because he was of the house and lineage of David)—to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”

Luke 2:4-5

Although our sinful world can be quite oppressive at times, we must remember the Lord God is still in control and will use us/everything to accomplish His Will.

Taxes.

No one likes them. Especially when they’re excessive.

But, they’re a “necessary evil” intended to better our way of life—although, sadly, too often they’re used to line the pockets of greedy, unscrupulous politicians, special interest groups, contractors, etc.

Such was certainly the case in Joseph and Mary’s day.

King Herod the Great, one of Antipater’s two sons, was appointed by his father as governor of Judea and would rule there from 37 B.C.-4 A.D. Ironically, he was an Edomite (a descendant of Esau) by birth. So, that might explain why he was initially conscious of Jewish national and religious feelings and moved slowly on things like taxation, Hellenism, religion, etc. He even helped improve relationships with the Jews by preventing the Romans from raiding and defiling the Temple.