What the Manger Teaches Us About God
The Ground Floor of Grace
You might not expect it, but this is where we start to learn what God is really like. Picture the scene: a bustling family home, jam-packed with relatives who had all descended on Bethlehem because of the Roman census. The guest room was already full—cousins, uncles, and aunties packed together like sardines. With no space left upstairs, Mary and Joseph found themselves downstairs on the ground floor, where the animals were kept. This wasn’t some idyllic barn with a starry roof; it was gritty, messy, and noisy. Yet this is where Jesus entered the world—the King of Kings, cradled in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.
This wasn’t Plan B. It wasn’t an unfortunate oversight or an accident. It was deliberate. God, in His infinite wisdom, chose this setting to declare something incredible: He isn’t a distant deity who only associates with the high and mighty. No, He meets us in the middle of life’s mess and chaos.
The Humility of the Manger
The manger wasn’t just a piece of furniture; it was a message. It speaks of a God who flips human expectations on their head. Paul captures this beautifully in Philippians 2:6-7:
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
The Creator of the universe chose not to intimidate us with grandeur but to approach us with humility. By being born into the humblest of circumstances, Jesus made Himself accessible to all—shepherds, sinners, and seekers alike. The manger reminds us that no one is too lowly to encounter God, and no place is too ordinary for His glory.
The Family Home with Eternal Implications
Let’s not forget, this wasn’t a sterile hospital or a quiet private birthing suite. It was a family home, teeming with people. The animals brayed, the smell of hay filled the air, and the hustle of a census added to the chaos. Right there, in the midst of all this, the Saviour of the world took His first breath.
And who were the first visitors? Shepherds—rough, scruffy men who lived on society’s edges. They weren’t invited to royal banquets, but they were the first to hear heaven’s announcement. The angels told them, not the religious elites or political powers, that a Saviour had been born. That’s the kind of King Jesus is: one who invites the overlooked, the broken, and the ordinary to come and see.
What the Manger Teaches Us About God
The manger is more than a quaint part of the nativity scene. It reveals God’s character and challenges us to live differently.
1. God’s Kingdom Values Humility
From the moment of His birth, Jesus demonstrated that God’s Kingdom doesn’t run on the fuel of pride and power. The King of Kings didn’t come in pomp but in humility. This challenges us to reconsider what greatness really looks like.
2. God Meets Us Where We Are
Jesus didn’t wait for the world to clean itself up before He arrived. He stepped straight into the mess and brokenness, meeting people where they were. Whether you feel unworthy or overwhelmed, the manger reminds you that God is near and ready to meet you.
3. God Transforms the Ordinary
The Roman census wasn’t spiritual; it was a bureaucratic headache. Yet God used it to position Mary and Joseph exactly where they needed to be. He’s still doing that today, using the mundane and messy parts of life to accomplish His purposes.
A Plan Fulfilled in Everyday Life
The census, the overcrowded home, the manger—these weren’t random details. They were part of God’s eternal plan. Micah 5:2 prophesied centuries earlier:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
The Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem wasn’t coincidence; it was God’s design. And what about the census? Caesar Augustus thought he was flexing his political muscles, but in reality, he was a tool in God’s hand, moving the pieces into place for the greatest story ever told.
How We Should Live in Light of the Manger
The manger isn’t just a detail in a Christmas card; it’s a call to action. If this is how God entered the world—with humility, grace, and a heart for the lowly—how should we live as His followers?
1. Embrace Humility
Jesus didn’t cling to His divine rights; He laid them down. Are we willing to let go of our pride, our need for recognition and serve others as He did?
2. Be Approachable
The manger wasn’t behind a velvet rope; it was open to anyone willing to come. Do our lives reflect that openness? Are we creating space for the hurting, the outcast, and the seeker to encounter God through us?
3. Celebrate the Ordinary
God works through the mundane. The census, the crowded house, the feeding trough—He used it all. What if we stopped waiting for grand moments and started looking for God’s hand in the everyday?
The Hope of the Manger
This season, as we think about that first Christmas, let’s allow the wonder of the manger to sink in. It’s more than a sentimental image; it’s the heart of the Gospel. The King of Kings stepped into our world not to condemn but to save, not with grandeur but with grace.
So, as we reflect on the nativity, let’s see more than a baby in a manger. Let’s see the outrageous humility of God, the accessibility of His love, and the hope He brings to even the messiest of places. The same God who orchestrated every detail of Jesus’ birth is at work in your life, weaving His plans through the ordinary and unexpected.
Go well, my friend.
When Mary said yes – Blog Post
No Room at the Inn – YouTube Video