Foot Of The Trough

Foot of the Trough

Luke 2:7, 12, 16

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Three times we see the word “Manger” -- from the Latin word munducare which means “to eat.” It was a feeding trough. What humility! And what accessibility! If He had been born in a palace then only the elite could have gained access. None among us would qualify. But anyone could come to a stable or a cave. The shepherds could enter there. Anyone could. You or I would not have needed permission to attend. We could freely walk right in.

Question 1: What if you had the privilege of being present at the manger?

Question 2: Where would you position yourself? Where did the shepherds stand, or did they kneel? At a distance, for privacy, so as not to impose? They had just been told by an angel that the Messiah had been born nearby, and that they would find him lying in that trough of a manger. Suddenly a huge angel choir appeared, praising God. No wonder they hurried off to find Him. They had never had a day like this…enthusiasm off the charts! So what if YOU were one of those shepherds? Would you perhaps dare to draw close enough to really see Him, or perhaps even touch Him?

We’re all different, just like John and Peter when they ran to Jesus’ empty tomb. John got there first and stopped at the threshold, perhaps in reverence or respect, but bold Peter burst right in, examining the evidence firsthand.

The shepherds had an invitation to “go and see”. They had just witnessed a miraculous, other-worldly, glorious sight on that hillside. What would be intimidating about walking into a barn full of animals and laying eyes on a baby?

It’s like the song says, I can only imagine – would I stand in your presence, or to my knees would I fall, would I sing hallelujah, would I be able to speak at all?

Knowing what we know today, I’m not sure if I would keep distance out of respect, or if I would try to clamor up for a front row seat. How about you? Ah, but what if Joseph and Mary said, “Hello, please, come see our gift from heaven”? Why then we would slowly but certainly approach to within inches, and each step would feel like we were walking on air.

Back to our original questions: What if you had the privilege of being present at the manger? Where would you position yourself?

If you want to look into that face directly, then you’ll need to find a spot at His feet…kneeling at the foot of the trough. If perhaps you felt peace to reach out and touch the child, then it would be on the feet, so close to where you are bowed in worshipful reverence.

Just think about those feet.

“Mary, did you know that your baby boy, would one day walk on water?”

Those are the feet that no doubt were fondly caressed by an adoring Mary in the manger, that pitter pattered around the carpenter shop, that as a youngster were supposed to follow the family from the temple, but stayed w/ the leaders.

Those feet stepped into Jordan at His baptism, stood on the mount preaching, walked a thousand miles helping, and ran to the hurting. They kicked over the tables of those who made His house a mockery. Those feet shook off dust from places which rejected Him, but moved on to another place!

They walked on water just as they walked on dusty streets…and to walk beside them for a privileged few must’ve felt like walking on air!

“A tender blade of grass so green crushed in the footstep of the Nazarene, springs back and waves a message to a bird as it sings, ‘That’s Him!’.”

Those feet didn’t run when His accusers approached, but rather they walked up the hill to Golgotha and were nailed to a cross, but in so being those bruised heels stomped on the head of the serpent…a crushing victory!

By the way, at the foot of that cross was His mother, Mary. If she could reach to touch any part of Him at this point then it would be His feet, nailed there. As His life ended He was in close proximity to the woman that He was the closest to at His birth. His life ended unclothed, as it began, but not now recognizable as human. There at the foot of the cross, spattered by the blood of her son, her mind must have been flooded with memories, the earliest of which occurred at the foot of the trough.

Those divine feet descended below the earth and led captivity captive…then they walked out of that tomb, traversed the road to Emmaus w/ two unknowing disciples, and later showed all His followers how they can walk w/ Him after His departure. Then those nail-scarred feet left the ground at His ascension just as ours will at His return, and then we can join Him 7 years later when those glorious feet will once again touchdown in the end zone of life on Earth as He proclaims, “I’m back to set up my Kingdom!”