Humble Love

"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 guest room for them at the inn." -Luke 2:6-7

Most of us are so used to the nativity scene, that it seems almost normal to see a baby in a manger. But, really? Think about it. A manger is "a box or trough in a stable or barn from which horses or cattle eat." After a little digging, I learned that in biblical times, mangers were typically constructed from clay mixed with straw, or from stones held together with wood. Even though Mary wrapped Jesus in cloths, doing her best to cushion her precious baby boy from the hard clay, there's no way that manger was comfortable. After having fed many animals, there's also no doubt it smelled pretty foul. The stable itself likely smelled strongly of animal feces, urine, and old feed.

It is hard for us in the comfort of our lives to imagine the discomfort into which our Savior entered the world. And yet, we must, for in sodoing, we learn of the humble love of Christ. How incredible to reflect on the magnitude of the Christmas story, when the King of Kings, the Lord of the whole Universe, laid aside his blinding glory, and humbled himself to take the form of an infant, born to a poor couple from an oppressed people group.

How unlikely! Yet it is this very aspect of God's love, the humility and selflessness of it, upon which Christianity pivots. God loves us so much that He considered himself nothing for our sakes. Knowing that it was the way to save us, He gladly entered the world through Mary to lay his head on the hard stone of a manger, and ultimately, to open his arms on the cross. God entered the world as nothing so that we could have everything. The baby in rags was destined for the pain of the cross. Christ is the physical proof of God's humility, the manifestation of God's selfless love for us. Let us learn about humility from Christ Jesus:

"Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)

I pray that as we celebrate Christ's birth, an event that shook the foundations of the universe and changed our lives forever, we meditate on the holy humility of our Lord, and imitate it so that others may see the goodness and power of His love. Merry Christmas!