Before leaving the Christmas season, there is a thought that I wanted to consider. I heard a teacher say, "If we want to have Jesus in us, sometimes that means we have to be a manger."
A manger is an insignificant piece of furniture in a stable, or barn. It's only purpose is to hold the grain or feed for livestock. Our English word comes from a French/Latin root, "manger", which means to eat. The Hebrew word can mean a crib, or a stall for an animal.
None of us likes to consider ourselves an insignificant piece of farm furniture, but it is just this kind of container that held the glory of the Son of God:
"And she brought forth her first born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Lk. 2:7
If we are this humble food trough, the Lord Jesus can inhabit us in all His glory, and the world can come to us to feed upon the living Word of God. From this humble farm furniture, the provision of life can be given and sustained. Jesus described Himself as this provision:
"Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world...I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." Jn. 6:32-35
The prophet Amos warned:
"Behold the days are coming", says the LORD God, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD...They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it." Amos 8:11-12
The famine for the Bread of Life, the Word of God, came upon Israel because they cared more about their own pride, wealth and worldly provision, even praying upon the weak and poor, than they cared for the true provision of God (v.5-6). This suggests to us that perhaps one reason the famine came was because no one was interested in being a manger. Do we in the church have this same mindset today? Do we despise being a manger?
Jesus prayed that we would receive the same glory that He has. One way to have that glory is to contain His glory, and not our own. He worded it this way:
"And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one, just as We are one...Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." Jn. 17:22, 24
We share the glory, because we share the place of glory. The glory that we have is because of the Glory we contain.
The manger of our Christmas story, had no importance of its own. It had no name, nor reputation. Men didn't come to see this manger because it was the most "special" manger ever made. Lowly animals had eaten from it unaware of any extraordinary quality of that manger. However, the world sings of that nameless, utilitarian manger, and men journeyed from distances to that manger, because of what it contained: the Glory of God, and the Bread of life come down from heaven.
Our Father has called us to be mangers, that His Son may be laid within us.
"Child in a Manger Born"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZkrBC0SZek
"He Made a Way in a Manger"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwe7GDl9-04
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all..."
1 Tim. 2:3-6
It is a very good thing to study scripture. Paul tells us to study to show ourselves approved. However, sometimes, it seems I can get caught up and carried away, even a little weighed down in the details, and it takes a special moment to bring all of it into a simple focus.
During a recent conversation, it was mentioned that someone had converted from Christianity to a faith that did not accept Jesus as the Savior. One of the people in this conversation asked sincerely, "How do you go from knowing Jesus is the Savior, to going back to being without that knowledge? How is that possible?" The question was directed toward me, but I never did get to answer it because the conversation went to something else.
More than even thinking of an answer to this, I was struck by the beautifully simple faith expressed by the question. Once we know this truth, how is it possible to "not know"?
The simple faith of this question says that Jesus is so part of reality, how can He then be erased from it? How this simple statement of faith expressed by the question, must touch and please the heart of God, who gave His precious Son for just this inescapable truth.
Sometimes as serious, studying Christians, we forget the many souls who know this simple truth, stated so plainly. Yet, this IS the Gospel. This IS the faith that saves. This IS the faith the size of a mustard seed, yet hidden within it is the great tree of the Kingdom of God.
At Christmas time, our Father invites us to a simple place of faith. He brings us to a stable to look at a baby. He prophesied this baby (Isa. 9:6-7), and He brought this baby, who is the Savior, Christ the Lord, to birth. Perhaps one reason why the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords was born as a baby was so all people, from all walks of life, could come and smile at the little baby born in such circumstances. The lowly animals were invited to come and see the baby. The humble, forgotten shepherds, who worked at night while all others were sleeping, were invited to come and see. The exalted and the wise from foreign lands were invited, even compelled, to come and see Him, and bring Him gifts. The old, devout servant of God, Simeon, was brought by the Spirit to see and hold the baby Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. He rejoiced that he was allowed to see Him before he died (Lk. 2:24-35). Anna, the old prophetess, likewise was allowed to see and discern the Lordship of this little baby (Lk. 2:36-38).
An evil king of this world also sought to find the child for an evil purpose, but God would not allow the king to find Him. He was not invited to the event. However, we are invited.
A famous radio DJ would say frequently that he wasn't sure he understood or believed all of the details of Christianity, but he l-o-v-e-d the baby Jesus. He didn't just acknowledge the baby Jesus, he loved Him. Even if you do not understand it all, God has a simple starting point. Even if you have turned and walked away from knowing Jesus, this is the perfect time of year to come back to that simple starting point. Come to the stable, and see the little baby born, and laid in a manger. Smile at Him, and welcome Him into the world, and into your heart.
During this Christmas season, we can study so many wonderful things pertaining to it. Let's not forget the beauty of the simple, elegant, truth which it brings to man:
"Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Lk. 2:10-11
Our Father sent a child, a Son, to be born unto us.
"What Child Is This?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGqf5ha_GEA
"Charlie Brown Christmas" Scene: The True Meaning of Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs
We have seen in recent headlines that the world has begun to question supporting Israel. Throughout the nations, anti-Semitic activity is also on the increase. Anti-Semitic marches were held in France with marchers shouting, "Juif, la France n'est pas a toi!", meaning, "Jew, France is not yours." Because of the increase in Anti-Semitism in France, many French Jews are leaving the country. The number of French Jews who have emigrated to Israel has increased by 63%. This increase in anti-Semitic/anti-Israel sentiment is not limited to France.
Scripture warns us that the nations will turn against Israel in the Last Days.
One of the most graphic examples of anti-Semitism in scripture is found in the Book of Esther. The main protagonist, Haman, is a counselor to the king, and deeply resents the Jews sojourning in his nation (Est. 3:6). He particularly despises the Jew, Mordecai ("little man"), who refuses to bow when Haman passes. Even though Haman has been promoted to a position of great honor, even above the princes of the land, he resents the Jew, Mordecai. Haman eventually convinces the king to issue a decree that would mean the murder of all of the Jews in the land (Est. 3:8-10). He even offers to finance the operation from his own funds.
The meaning of Haman's name is "magnificent", and it is related to the planet Mercury. The root meaning, however, refers to "rage, tumult, commotion". Like the planet Mercury of his name, Haman was closest to the sun (king), but full of volcanic fire of rage that twisted and marred his surface. He focused all of that rage toward the Jews of his land.
This kind of hate, like all other racial hatreds, is completely irrational, and baseless. Why should Haman, who had everything, and every honor, who was a confidant of the king, focus all of his resentment and covetousness upon this "little man", who posed no threat to him in the least.
At one point in the story of Esther, Mordecai is honored by the king for the faithful service he provided in exposing a plot against the king. His good deed had been recorded in the historical records, and the king came across it when reading those records one evening.
Haman is enraged at the honor given to Mordecai by the king. All of this irrational, resentful rage against the "little man", Mordecai, would lead to Haman's destruction.
As Haman heads home, after Mordecai's honor by the king, he bitterly complains to his wife, and all of his friends about the unfairness of the honor paid to Mordecai-honor he felt should have been paid to himself. However, it is here that his wife, and his wise advisors tell him a truth that we are amazed that they should know:
"If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him." Est. 6:13
Haman's wife and his sage advisors were not Jewish, and yet they knew by revelation the relationship the Jews have with God. If they knew this powerful truth as unbelieving Gentiles, what excuse is there for us, and for the nations of the world, who refuse to acknowledge this covenant relationship?
Scripture says that while his wife and advisors were yet saying this to Haman, the king's servants came to bring him to the fateful banquet where Haman's plot against the Jews would be exposed, and subsequently, Haman would be taken and hanged.
Haman's wife, who gave him the truthful prophetic word, was named Zeresh, which means "gold". She, and the sages who counseled Haman knew a truth that it would do well for the world to remember: If you set your hand upon the Jew, you will fall. The LORD has a covenant relationship with Israel, and with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which He will never forget, nor from which will He ever walk away.
"I will bles those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Gen. 12:3
This is a truth my own nation had better not forget, and it is a truth to ALL nations in the earth. I have also provided the French translation:
"Je bénirai ceux qui te béniront, et Je maudirai ceux qui te maudiront."
Our Father remembers His covenants.
"Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61R9YpxWjOY
