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!”
At His feet is where I want to be. How about you?
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
What a privilege it is that we today, and every day of our lives, can sit at the feet of Jesus! There we will find…
1. A Place of Pardon.
Luke 7:38
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
In humility this unnamed woman, void of chastity, found forgiveness from her sins as she knelt at the feet of Jesus. The Lord allowed this woman who had made a living from impure contact with men to touch Him…and His virtue became her own as her faith and repentance were expressed there at His feet!
Or another, taken in the very act of adultery, fell at His feet in repentance, and looking to Him she was forgiven! All her accusers left, and Jesus said for her to go and sin no more.
2. A Place of Healing.
Matthew 15:30
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
Outcasts and rejects find a healthy, happy place at His feet. Worldly wounds are healed there. Calloused ‘souls’ are softened and saved by His touch, and instructed to walk on and bring others to His feet for healing!
3. A Place of Learning.
Luke 10:39
And she [Martha] had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Martha was busy serving in the kitchen, but little sis chose the better path, taking time to just sit, rest, and learn timeless truths from the Master. Martha could have a Mary Christmas if she spent more time at Jesus' feet.
4. A Place of Prayer.
Mark 5:22-23
And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, [23] And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death:
This is prayer in the proper position…kneeling. It’s true, it’s more an attitude of the heart than a position of the body, but it’s the position we’d assume if He walked in here right now! And it helps promote the right attitude inwardly when we assume that position outwardly. You know this if you’ve ever come to the altar to pray, and compared that experience to remaining in your pew – “I’ll just pray here.”
It’s true, we ‘may come boldly’ to His throne, but that doesn’t mean eye to eye. It’s bold in that we can be in His presence at all…and in the awe of such a moment, may we be found kneeling at His feet in prayer!
5. A Place of Thanksgiving.
Luke 17:16
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
This was the only 1 of 10 lepers who, having been cleansed, showed His thanks. All of them had the faith that saved them. So why the ingratitude? Was it the surprise of the miraculous moment? Was it taken for granted? Did the other 9 run off to show family or friends, or to do the things they always wanted w/ their new physical freedom? We don’t know for sure…all we know is that this one recognized the highest priority of life is owed to the One Who made life worth living, and before going on to live it, put first things first at the feet of Him.
Every day is a Christmas gift. Have you been thankful today? For salvation, we cannot thank Him enough. For daily bread, constant help, daily motivation and encouragement from His Word. Thanksgiving should be every day for the Christian!
6. A Place of Rest.
Luke 8:35
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
[Jesus had just made the first deviled ham, casting those demons into the swine!]
Wicked, fallen angels had afflicted his mind, and he had no rest, but now he’s in his right mind, at rest, and naturally, wanted to continue to find rest at the feet of Jesus.
7. A Place of Worship.
Rev. 1:17
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Again, it’s amazing we can even enter His presence, and again, if He entered this place, we’d all quickly find our place on our face!
“As dead” = motionless. We live life too fast today, and just need to sit, and ‘be still and know’ that He is God, and worship!
We all want His power on our lives, and this verse says, ‘he laid his right hand upon me’. He takes away our fears, and puts it all into perspective: He is the first and the last. It’s all about Him…and we’d do well to live our lives kneeling at His precious feet, walking in His footprints.
Matthew 28:9 [post-resurrection]
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Ironically, Jesus washes OUR feet, and gives us the privilege of having those beautiful feet that preach the gospel…a sermon in shoes!
Where would Jesus go?
Proverbs 4:26
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Proverbs 1:15
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Hebrews 12:13
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:59
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Proverbs 3:23
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
“Where would you have me to go, Lord? Give me feet to follow you anywhere, to take me to the altar at church, to lead me to my quiet place to pray, that bring me to your house faithfully, that carry me in service to others, bringing them back to you!”
We end where we began: What if you had the privilege of being present at the manger? Ah, we do have that privilege.
Where would you position yourself? May He find us at the foot of the trough. O come, let us adore Him! [Kneel at the cross]
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