The Manger
Luke 1:26-29
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
Luke 1:30-33
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:38
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! LET IT BE TO ME according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 2:7
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
#1 A manger is a humbling place
Micah 5:2
2 You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me, One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
#2 The manger was a sign
Luke 2:8-12
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 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. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
#3 The manger was glorious!
Luke 2:12-14
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And SUDDENLY there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
#4 The Manger was step one on the earth, for Jesus Christ, on the road to Calvary.
Philippians 2:6-8
6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.