A Manger Instead of a Bed

When you celebrate Christmas does it feel more like you are celebrating a holiday with decorations, presents, food, and family or does it feel like you are celebrating one of the single most significant events in history? We know the Christmas story so well that if we are not careful, it will begin to feel just like that—a story. For example, you probably know the story of Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem and, upon arriving, looking for an inn to stay for the night. However, when they arrived, the rooms were all filled because of the number of people in Bethlehem for the census, so Mary and Joseph, because of the kindness of an innkeeper, were able to stay in a stable around the back of the inn. Sound familiar? The problem is, a large part of that isn’t in the Bible. In fact, the Bible never says Jesus was born in a stable, only that He was laid in a manger, or feeding trough.

“Because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 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 2:4-7)

The word that is used for “inn” or “lodging” is kataluma, which would more closely mean “guest room.” In fact, it’s the same word used in Luke 22:11 to describe the room in which Jesus and His disciples have the last supper. Joseph was probably planning on staying in the guest room at a family member’s house. For whatever reason, whether the house was too full or if Joseph’s family flat out rejected him and his bride because of the scandalous pregnancy, there was no room for them in the family home. This would ring true throughout Jesus’ life, that there was no room for him in the family.

“For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.” (John 7:5)

“Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘How can this be?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ Then he said, ‘You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: “Physician, heal yourself”—meaning, “Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.” But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.’” (Luke 4:22-24)

There was no bed for Jesus, His mother would have to lay him in a feeding trough. Joseph was expecting to be able to stay in the guest room, but instead, he was shown to the place where the animals stayed. This likely wasn’t a stable around the back of the house or isolated on some hill as we like to depict. It was most likely the lowest room in the house, filled with straw, a place where the animals would have stayed when it was too cold to be outside. What might have Joseph and Mary felt in that instance? Rejection? Anger? Frustration? Gratitude for at least getting some kind of shelter? Think about yourself: how do you react when life doesn’t go the way you expect? How do you react when you find that there is no room for you or your family? We can’t always control what happens to us in this life, but we can control our reactions to our circumstances. If we choose to rant and rave or whine and complain, if all we think about is how nice a bed would be and how smelly and dirty a manger is, we’ll miss the miracle in that manger.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

How were Mary and Joseph able to react with such obedience? Maybe it was because Mary knew she was chosen by God, that she carried the Son of God in her. Does that sound familiar? 

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (Ephesians 1:4)

“And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” (Romans 8:10)

God has called you, too. He has chosen you, and you have Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit within you. You too can respond with faithful obedience when this world shows you there is no room for you. You can lean on God when you get a manger instead of a bed.

To the glory of the Lord God, whose I am, and whom I serve.