Jesus: The Manger Born Messiah

Sunday 25 December
READ: Luk. 2:1-7
MORE LESSON: Luk. 2:12.

Jesus' time and place of birth are of great significance and that is why our Scripture reading of today started with it. It was a time of decree and a time of fax, everyone going to his/her city to obey the decree. The prophecies about Jesus' place of birth must be fulfilled and so Ceaser Augustus ordered everyone to move, And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet: Matt. 2:4-5. In fact, it is not only about the place of His birth; everything written concerning Him was fulfilled. Jesus' birth fulfilled the Scripture because He Himself came to fulfil the whole Scripture (Jn. 19:28). May your life fulfil the Scripture positively, in Jesus’ name.
The fact that He was born in a manger was a sign and highly significant (Lk. 2:7). The Messiah for the whole world was born in a manger; what a paradox and an irony! But as usual, it happened also that the Scripture might be fulfilled. Jesus was born where He was born because of what He came to do! Jesus came as a lamb to take away the sin of the whole world; as it is usual for a lamb to be born in a manger, Jesus was born there. He was also born in a manger because ... there was no room in the inn... which means that Jesus came to a people who were not expecting Him. There was no space in a comfortable and expected place, so, He was born in a manger. We must make room for Jesus in our heart and life so that He can do all that He was sent to do in us.
Moreover, His birth in a manger was prophetic; low place, a place no pregnant woman wants to deliver her child. Can you imagine delivering your first child in a place where sheep and goats are feeding? Jesus was born there to tell the whole world that He would fulfil His ministry with humility, He came and did things the world expected. His birth in a manger is a declaration that He did not come only for the highly placed, but for the lowly too. Jesus came to die for all categories of people and so all celebrated His birth; the wise men from the east, which signifies the learned and the shepherds which signifies the unlearned and the illiterates (Matt. 2:1-2, Lk. 2:8-16).
It also means that if Jesus could be born in a manger, He can inhabit any life no matter how bad it is. Only if the heart can be opened, ready to receive Him, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me: Rev. 3:20. All you need to do to be a saved person is to open the door of your heart, when Jesus comes in, He will take care of your entire life from the earth to Heaven. Can Jesus be born in you today? Is there room for Jesus in your life? He wants to be there now!

Prayer/Action
* Thank You Father for delivering me from the bondage of sin.
* Father, thank You for the gift of salvation and permanent place for Jesus in my life.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Just as angels celebrated Jesus with shouts of hosanna, so shall my destiny be celebrated with songs of high praise to Jehovah, in the name of Jesus.