Christmas Story Was In Unimpressive Surroundings - Yet A Spectacular Event

This message can be heard at https://www.buzzsprout.com/132453/611501-unimpressive-surroundings-spectacular-event

Disclaimer. I do frequent Sermon Central and borrow from others works, but often don't remember who. Some parts in here are from the great works of others. This message has been very well received by many, may God bless it and use it to His glory.

Title: Unimpressive surroundings - Spectacular event

They're a different generation today; kids that are under the age of 15.

Many are not that impressed by 60’s rock music, I don't understand that myself. :)

They're like, it's cool and everything, but whatever.

They're more impressed with watching YouTube videos.

At first glance, there is much about the story of the birth of Christ that was unimpressive.

Let’s look at a few things that might not impress some at first glance.

Unimpressive beginnings

Luke 2:4-11 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 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.

Jesus was Not born in Paris France, Not Washington D.C. , not Moscow, Not London, Not Beijing China, Not even Jerusalem.

Bethlehem was insignificant among Judah = unimpressive

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

Jesus was not born in some city that was powerful in the region.

Instead He was born in a meager little village, one most would go by without noticing.

A city that otherwise would be of no significance to most people.

It only became significant after Christ’s birth there.

It was an unimpressive village.

Christ’s birth room = unimpressive - animals slept there.

We often think that since there was no room in the Inn, and since they used the manager, a feeding trough for the baby’s crib, it was a cave or barn. It has been orthodox tradition that it was a cave. Justin Martyr (150 A. D.) mentions it, as does Origen about a hundred years later. Queen Helena erected a church over it (325 A. D.). Still, others have it being in a barn like structure. And then there are others who say it may have been a room in a house. It was common to use the poorest part of your house to put up some animals at night. People took animals into those areas of their house to protect them. Many still do today in some parts of the world.

Where ever Joseph and Mary were, it is clear is that they were in an area where animals would sleep and feed, it’s just that the exact type of room isn’t clear from what we see in the Bible’s texts.

But if you follow orthodox tradition, it would have been a cave.

One thing is for sure, it wasn’t an area where humans would be expected to sleep.

You would never put an honored guest in that area. It was a lowly, humbling place to put Mary and Joseph, and certainly not where you would want to birth a child.

It was a very unimpressive room.

The babies crib was a feed trough for the animals = unimpressive

The crib wasn’t impressive, it wasn’t some fancy expensive hand carved crib with ornate carvings fit for the birth of a King. It was a manger, either wooden or stone was used as a feeding trough or food box that holds hay or feed for farm animals. Mangers were located wherever livestock were kept, places like stables, corrals, or caves, and some houses. Farmers were sure to keep their mangers well-supplied with feed at all times so the animals would never go hungry. The cattle can walk up to a manger at any time, and then spend long, leisure hours chomping away.

It was an unimpressive crib.

But Jesus was not laid in a manger by accident. It is a major spiritual symbol.

Animals go to the manger for physical food, but with Jesus lying on the hay, it symbolizes that we can go to the manger for spiritual food. Jesus has an infinite storehouse of nourishment available, and we can approach him any time and never go hungry. Jesus feeds us with His Word and his gospel. Jesus wants us to devour his word, chew on it, slowly reflect on its meaning, swallow and digest it, and make it part of the fabric of our being.