The Stranger In The Manger
Luke 2:7-20
The late country singer Hank Snow recorded the following.....
Praise and glory to the highest little stranger here on earth
Little stranger in a manger little stranger sweet and mild
Mother Mary there with Joseph watches o’er you, their holy child
Searching for you to adore you came Three Kings led by a star
Little stranger in a manger they’ll find heaven where you are
Choirs of angels are singing this night of your birth
Praise and glory to the highest in a stable on earth
Humble shepherds filled will wonder
Kneel and pray by lanthern light
Little stranger in a manger bless us all this holy night
Choirs of angels are singing this night of your birth
Praise and glory to the highest little stranger here on earth
Has anyone ever said to you when you start to leave their house........."Don’t be a stranger !"
The sight of a woman giving birth in a stable, and a baby lying in a manger, a feed trough for animals is strange. But the one who was laying in that manger does not want to be a stranger to you. He is sadly, still a stranger to so many today, and I’m afraid that much of the world wants to keep him that way !
Let me share some thoughts about The Stranger In A Manger !
I. The Stranger Is The Creator.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
a. The Beginning.
Of Matthew, Luke, and John, John tells us much about who the stranger in the manger was. Matthew & Luke deal with his birth, but his birth was not his beginning. John tells us about the stranger in the manger prior to his birth. He is preexistent, preiminent, eternal !
b. The Bringing.
V3 He brought all things in to existence !
c. The Becoming. John 1:14
"And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us........"
Illust. Christmas Program......It’s God !
Illust. Someone with skin !
II. The Stranger Is The Christ.
The word Christ means "the anointed". It is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word "Messiah" and appears 514 times in the N.T.
Luke 4:16-21 "And he came to Nazereth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.
In the O.T. there were three offices that were anointed. All of these are fulfilled in Christ !
a. He is anointed prophet.
Deut 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
b. He is anointed priest.
As the Priest, he offered his own blood for the sins of the people.
Heb 7:26-27 For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once when he offered up himself
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 7:26 For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens;
c. He is anointed potentate.
1 Tim 6:15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
III. The Stranger In The Manger Is The Conqueror.
a. He was resurrected.
Having died on the cross, he was laid in a tomb which was covered by a stone. Yet death could not hold the King, he had the power to lay down his life, and the power to take it again.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
b. He will return.
Christ ascended back to the Father leaving a promise that he will return ! He came the first time as the lamb of God. He will return as the lion out of the tribe of Judah
c. He will reign.
Closing: Christ is a stranger to many. They still see him as the innocent babe in a manger. Many prefer that he stay there. The devil would have him remain a stranger to us. Yet, Christ came that you might know him ! He came that you might be reconciled to God.
