One of the paradoxes of Jesus’ birth on earth is where he was born despite Who He is. Since He is the Son of God (Luke 1:35), King of Kings (Revelation 19:16), doesn’t He deserve to be born in a palace? At least in an inn Mary and Joseph were searching for? Instead, Jesus was born in a shelter for animals and placed in a manger—a feeding trough for animals. The place He was born in wasn’t even meant for childbirth, let alone a family spending the night there. Alas, God chose that place with intention, with purpose, for many reasons.
After Jesus was born, the brand new family received visitors, who were notified of the good news by angels: “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:15-20).
Shepherds were considered blue-collar workers back in Jesus’ day. They usually stayed on the outskirts of the cities, most likely due to the dirty nature of their work. Therefore, Jesus being born in a shelter of animals was the perfect location for shepherds to visit. They wouldn’t have been allowed to set foot in a palace. They wouldn’t have been able to enter an inn without garnering some suspicious looks. Instead, they freely witnessed the miraculous Sight and were inspired to spread the news to others before returning to worship Jesus. With such an accessible location, the shepherds were able to partake in one of the most amazing miracles in human history.
Even today, Jesus is still accessible—to us. He doesn’t demand that we rid ourselves of sin before praying to Him. He doesn’t require us to only talk to Him at church. Jesus meets us exactly where we’re at, including right here, right now (Hebrews 4:15-16). So for the next few minutes, close your eyes and offer whatever is on your mind to Jesus. May you feel His presence as He communicates to you with the same love that spurred Him to have a humble birth.
Christina Chaiban
EFCC Attender