The Way In a Manger

 Luke 2:7, “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.”

Christmas and the Holiday Season carry with them a bittersweet experience for many people. Of course, the sweetness is the story of the coming of the Christ child into a world that is lost in the darkness of sin. The most beautiful event in the history of humanity was the day that God robed himself in flesh and became that baby in the manger.

Jesus, who said of himself in John 14:6, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”, came as a baby, grew up to become a man, stepped out into the world, and for 3 ½ years, testified that he was God, come down to this world for only one reason. He came to give his life upon the cross to make the way of salvation for all men who would accept his sacrifice for their sins.

He, who is the Way, came by way of the manger, preached the Way of Salvation, and made that Way accessible to all men through his own death, burial, and resurrection. Now, the Way is made for each of us through Jesus Christ. That’s the real meaning of Christmas, and in fact, the way that Jesus made it is the way that all of life can have genuine meaning. It’s the only way we can have perfect peace and joy in our hearts that cannot be explained but must be experienced individually as we come to Jesus. It is the Way of a fulfilled life, a life of service to others, sacrificing self to Christ's cause. The only life worth living that won’t leave you empty and wondering if your life made a difference.

The other side of this story is that during the Christmas season, much bitterness arises as well. The coming of Jesus in that manger made a way for us to come to know and serve the Lord. Still, he never promised that the Way would be made perfect and that we would never experience sadness and loss in life.

During this time of the year, more than any other, many go through a time of deepened sadness because of the loss of a loved one. That loneliness is magnified when they see the happiness and togetherness that others experience, and they feel so much more alone.

Some are saddened when they think of the fact that even though their loved ones are still on the earth, they can’t see them and be with them on this day. How many families this year will be saddened somewhat because a loved one is on some lonely military outpost, guarding the freedoms of America? And how many families are torn apart because one or both of the parents can’t be with their children because circumstances keep them apart?

It has been proven that more people succumb to depression at this time of year than at any other time. Sadness and loneliness become more than they can bear, and the only answer to their heartache is to take themselves out of this world. The saddest part of that is that after they leave this world, the chances are they enter eternity without God. It’s too late to turn back after they realize their terrible mistake.

Even though we are not immune to experiencing that same sadness and sorrow, we who serve the Lord are truly blessed, for we have great hope even during grief. That hope is Jesus, that Way that came through the manger.

Most of you reading this know what I’m talking about. There’s an empty chair at your table and an empty place in your heart that you can’t seem to fill with anything that will make the pain disappear. You’ve spent many long hours crying out to God for relief from the grief, for a return of the joy of the Lord to your heart that you might enjoy life to its fullest once again. Your only thought is, Lord, If I could go back and do it again, I’d do things a lot differently. I would never take for granted what you have given me that I have lost. But then you realize there’s no going back, only forward, living one day at a time.

You march on one day at a time but in faith, knowing that the Way has been made. You understand that no matter how sad it may get or how much your heart aches, there is a better day coming:

• A day of peace and rest.
• A day of great joy and happiness.
• A day of resurrection when you will be reunited with those who have gone before.
• A day when we will all be with Jesus forever more.

The Way to being reunited and participating in that great day of joy goes through the manger. The Way goes through the blood of Jesus that was shed upon the cross, and finally, the Way leads us to the altar of God, where you will give your life as a living sacrifice to Jesus.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, “… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

The manger has passed into history and become part of the most beautiful story in the Bible. Jesus came and died only once; his sacrifice is sufficient for all sins of all men, forever. The Way has been finished and is forever open to all who will walk in it! No matter what you face today, the Way is before you, allowing you to overcome whatever is ahead.

No matter how much your heart aches today, the Way of healing is made, for Jesus knows your heartache and your fears, and he hears your cries in the midnight hour when no one else is there. No matter how much loneliness you face, the Way has the power to fill that emptiness in your heart, too. The Way is Jesus, and I am so glad I serve a God who cares and can heal any sickness, disease, loneliness, and hopelessness. Through the power of the blood, your healing is already done.

Matthew 8:17 says that Jesus “… took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Jesus is waiting for you to find your way to him. No man on earth can heal your pain, but He who is the Way can! No man on earth can fill the loneliness and ease the sorrow in your heart, but He who is the Way has the power to answer your prayer, and he will hear your cry, so take it to the Lord in prayer.

The problem for most of us is that we don’t always find the instant relief we seek in prayer. Sometimes, God will answer our cries instantly, but sometimes, He waits, and for many of us, God’s timing is something we can’t understand.

We know that God hears us. We understand that the Way to our answer is already made. We know that Jesus cares and that nothing is impossible with God. We know that our prayers will be answered. Our only question is, “When!” I need an answer, God, and I need it now; not tomorrow, not in the morning, not in January when the holidays have passed…I NEED IT NOW! And then the answer comes, and God says, “Wait, just a little while longer. Your answer is on the way!”

I am reminded of a passage of scripture, 2 Corinthians 12:8, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”

Everyone carries an infirmity in one form or another; we are all part of the human condition, which means we are weak and frail in many ways. Physically – we are easily susceptible to sickness, disease, pain, and even death. Emotionally – we can become a basket case over even trivial things if we let it get the best of us, much less those things that are really hard to bear. Mentally – all I can say about that is that the older we get, the more that goes too. But for some of us, it starts going very quickly. Spiritually – we were dead in sin, and we’ve been born again; even so, we must ever guard our salvation lest we fall back into the trap of sin once again.

How many times have we prayed for weak things to be made strong? How often have you cried to the Lord to deliver you from despair, loneliness, fear, and heartache? Like Paul, I am sure that you’ve called more than once.

But never let us forget God’s answer to Paul. 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Now, I can accept the idea that God’s grace is sufficient. I can even understand and live with the idea that God makes me stronger through my suffering and weaknesses. But I don’t know about this “glorying in my infirmities” stuff. God, are you sure that part is supposed to be there? Did Paul do a little ad-libbing on his own? Did the Holy Ghost really inspire that part? Yes, that part is still part of the inspired Word of God, so we should give God glory amid our suffering and walk on in faith, believing that Christ in us will help us to overcome it all.

We must remember that God is with us during the battle. We must not forget that He has already made the Way of escape and that nothing we face will have the power to destroy us if we walk in faith before Him.

Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. Although the path of life may seem impossible, Jesus is there, walking with you, and he has already made a way for you to make it all the way to the end of your journey in his presence.

God has not left you as an orphaned child. That’s how he found you, but he has adopted you into the Family of God, and God intends that all his children will be cared for. The Lord watches over you like a mother hen. You are the Apple of His Eye; he loves you so much. If you know the Lord as your Savior, you have found the Way through the manger.

If you don’t know Him, the Way is open for you to step in and become a part of God’s family.

In 1994, two Americans responded to an invitation from the Russian Minister of Education to teach morals and ethics in some public schools. They were also given opportunities to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. The amazing thing was that the Russian Minister gave them permission to teach morals and ethics based upon principles of the Bible, something that America itself was trying to stop.

It was nearly Christmas time when the Americans reached the orphanage. So, they decided to tell the story of Jesus’ birth to the orphans. This would likely be the first time these children had heard the traditional Christmas story. They told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem, finding no room in the inn, and how the couple went to a stable where Jesus was born and placed in the manger.

Throughout the story, the children sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. For the first time, they heard the message of a Savior who had been born in a manger but died on a cross and rose again to make a way of salvation for all men.

As a follow-up activity to the story, each child was given three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manager. Each child was also given a small paper square cut from yellow napkins, which the children tore into strips. These paper strips became the straw in the manger. Small flannel squares had been cut from old garments and used for the baby’s blanket. From pieces of felt, a doll-like baby was made.

As the Americans walked around the room to observe the children, all went well until they got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As they looked at the little boy’s manger, they were surprised to see two babies in the manger. Quickly, they called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the cradle.

The translator said that Misha had very accurately remembered the story that had been told until he came to the part where Mary put Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib and made up his own ending to the story.

This is what the little boy said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no momma and papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. So, Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. Perhaps if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.

So, I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’ And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’ So, I got into the manger. Then Jesus looked at me and told me I could stay with him – for always.”

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes filled with tears that ran down his cheeks. Then, putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table, and his shoulders shook, and he began to cry. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon or abuse him, someone who would stay with him – “FOR ALWAYS!”

Do you sometimes feel like this little orphan boy, that somehow Jesus has left you, and that no one cares; there’s no one to call out to, and no one to hear your weeping in the night?

You have not been abandoned. You are a Child of God. He hears your cry and will never leave you or forsake you. He is always there, listening, hearing, and comforting you. He has brought you this far and will never let you fall.

No man has your answer, but Jesus does. He will strengthen you day by day. Each morning, when you arise, he will give you the strength to make it another day. Though the infirmity may still be there, His grace is sufficient. He will provide you with the grace for one more day of victory. He will give you the strength to walk one more mile. And every day, that strength will be there, the grace will be there, and Jesus will make a Way for you. You must live for God one day at a time.

Just keep walking by faith with your eyes on Jesus.

Let the Christmas story and the picture of the baby in the manger remind you constantly that Jesus came to become your Way through the manger. Your Way is finished through the blood shed upon the cross, and your Way is clear all the way to Heaven. Just keep walking by faith, one day at a time.

God bless you, and Merry Christmas!