“Why A Manger?”
Luke 2:8-15
Introduction: The sun sits high over the dusty road. The air is quiet, except for the buzzing of insects and the occasional beating of sheep. A man carefully leads a donkey over rocky terrain, as his very pregnant wife, a girl of no older than sixteen, gently rubs her swollen belly and readjusts herself atop the weary animal. The road to Bethlehem, busy with pilgrims making their way to the city of David, is now mostly deserted.
A young carpenter, Joseph, and his nine-months pregnant wife, Mary, are almost at their destination. Why did the decree from Augustus have to come at this time? How would they handle the birth of their first child so far away from their families and homes in Nazareth? Who would be mid-wife when the moment came for the baby’s birth? More questions than answers were the topics of conversation that broke the silence of the journey and the occasional braying of the donkey.
What accommodations would they find when they finally reached Bethlehem? Though Joseph’s ancestral home, no one in his family had any relatives - that they could remember - still living there. They would have to find an inn to stay in until the registration could be completed. And then make the arduous journey back to Nazareth.
I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES
A year earlier, Mary had been a young teenaged girl, playing with her friends, scrubbing clothes in the stream to get them clean; helping her mother bake bread, clean chickens, gather eggs, and learn how to set a proper Jewish table for meals. She occasionally allowed herself to get involved in typical teenager conversations about handsome boys, future husbands, and how many children she would have to carry on the family line.
She had even stopped playing long enough to meet with the match-maker. This older woman had been brought to her home by her father in order to plan and select a suitable husband for her. She had argued that she wasn’t ready for marriage and settling down - she wanted to enjoy her teen-age years a little longer.
But her parents had insisted, and so at the appointed time, freshly cleaned and with her brushed, she met with the matchmaker. And a kind of handsome apprentice carpenter named Joseph. He looked so old - so manly.
What could he see in me? she had asked herself. After several minutes of talking by the matchmaker and her parents, and a few hesitant words and phrases spoken by the two young people, the announcement was made. Her parents had agreed to the match - hands were shaken - and her future was decided. There would be plenty of time to plan the wedding nearly a year away.
Mary left the room after Joseph and the matchmaker had concluded the arrangements. She changed her clothes, went back outside to tell her friends about her engagement, and play before it was dinner time.
Joseph returned to his parent’s house. He announced that the deal had been made - he and Mary would marry in another year - more than enough time to build them a house, save money, build their furniture. His young life was changing too. All the responsibilities of a husband would soon be his to bear. A home, a wife, a business. A lot for a young man to shoulder.
Several months later, during a night of restless sleep, Mary was surprised and overwhelmed! The angel Gabriel suddenly appeared before her. He announced the impossible. “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31) Mary was puzzled - “How will this be since I am a virgin?” she asked. (1:34).
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born to you will be called the Son of God.” (1:35)
She had heard about strange things happening before, but never anything as strange as this. But Mary had learned her lessons well. All the teachings from the Torah about obedience to God brought forth her humble, innocent response: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered; “May it be to me as you have said.” (1:38)
Not everyone took the news of Mary’s pregnancy with the same calm and humble demeanor that she had displayed before Gabriel. Gossip has a way of preceding our own explanation about circumstances, doesn’t it? Joseph hadn’t seen Mary for several months when word reached him that Mary was beginning to show signs of being pregnant. Like any normal male of his time, he was immediately angry! When they had arranged the marriage the matchmaker had assured him that Mary was a virgin. Who had lied? The matchmaker? Mary? Her parents? He wanted an answer - immediately! Tomorrow he would confront her and demand an explanation.His attempts at sleep that night were very fitful.
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Matt. 1:20-21). The confrontation never took place. Joseph went the next day to Mary’s parents home, helped her load up her belongings, the clothes she had prepared for their life together as husband and wife. With every-thing packed, she bid her parents goodbye and moved in with Joseph, her husband.
II. THE CITY
The hundred-mile journey would soon be over. Good thing. Her back was hurting from riding on the donkey’s back for these many days. Relief came only when she alighted and walked alongside Joseph, holding his hand - his rough, calloused, carpenter’s hand in hers. His grip was strong and that comforted her. He would be an excellent husband and provider. His anger over hearing of her pregnancy was gone - they had discussed the angel’s visits to each of them and knew that this was the will of God. In humility they had accepted God’s will for their lives. Soon, the pregnancy would result in the delivery of the promised son; soon, their long journey to Bethlehem would be over and they would be back home in Nazareth.
The sun was setting now - they could see the early dinner fires of Bethlehem in the distance. Perhaps another hour and they would be sitting down to a meal with other travelers, swapping tales of their journeys and lives with other immigrants.
Then it happened! A sharp pain - the contraction of muscle. Mary had never felt that kind of pain before and she cried out! The quiet after-noon silence was shattered by the young mother-to-be’s cry. Joseph was startled - even the donkey paused. They would have to hurry now. Joseph’s pace increased - he hurried the donkey along. They couldn’t have the baby out here, on the road - they had to get to Bethlehem.
With the setting sun came their entrance into the town. They didn’t have time to be sightseers. They had to find a place to room - find a mid-wife - find women who could Mary with the delivery. Mary had had another pain - they were far apart - but still the impending delivery was now upper most in their minds. They had to find an inn with a room - and soon!
But every inn was filled - many had traveled to Bethlehem for the census - they had even noticed some travelers sleeping in the won square. Surely their baby wouldn’t be born outside like this. “Help us God,” came the plea from their young lips, “show us where we shall stay.”
III. THE CAVE
They approached the last inn. And this inn-keeper was as adamant about not having any rooms left as the others had been. “But,” Joseph pleaded, “my wife is ready to give birth to our baby. She’s had pains for the past hour - soon the baby will be ready to be born and we’ll have no place for the birth!” His imploring, excited voice became more agitated with another cry from Mary.
Finally, the innkeeper directed them to the last possible place of rest in Bethlehem. His stable. Though it was filled with his own livestock and that donkeys, horses and camels of his guests, there still might be some room for them to find a corner and sleep. His wife went to fetch the mid-wife as Joseph and Mary were led to the stable and cave behind the inn.
Doing his best to set up a soft place for Mary, Joseph gathered hay and straw and put together a make-shift bed for her. The contractions were coming more frequently now, almost every minute by his reckoning. The mid-wife and the innkeeper’s wife returned a few minutes later. Joseph was ordered to go “fetch some water” and he left with several jugs even as Mary cried out again.
He soon returned with the water jugs and waited out of sight as Mary’s pains and cries became more frequent. They were interspersed with the mid-wife’s instructions about holding her breath, and then “Push!” And for a long moment there was nothing but silence.
“Wah! Wah!” That’s all Joseph heard next. The struggling cries of a newly-born infant pierced the quiet stable’s night air. The long journey was over - the long, painful struggle at giving birth to her first child was finished. Joseph joined his wife and the others, beaming with pride yet hesitant with wonderment as he beheld his young son - God’s son.
How small he was. How delicate. Be gentle with him. Hold him - cradle him with the utmost gentleness. Into those rough, calloused hands of a carpenter came the baby Jesus, wrapped hurriedly in swaddling clothes.
Don’t forget Mary. Her perspiring face and forehead were now being dried by the innkeeper’s wife. She was exhausted and it showed in her face. But the joy of a mother’s smile was spread wide across her face. She had endured the pain of the journey and the pain of virgin birth to bring this baby - this Son of God into the world. All the joy of the moment so captured her that the gossip and pointing fingers of Nazarenes were now behind her.
Joseph handed the baby back to Mary. She pulled her garment down enough to give the baby his first taste of mother’s milk. The crying of the just-born baby ceased and was replaced by the suckling sounds to appease his hunger.
A little later, with the baby burped and asleep, Joseph took him from a tired Mary’s arms and laid him to rest in a manger. They needed sleep, too. It had been a long journey, a long night, and an unforgettable birth. Soon, morning would dawn - what would they do then?
Mary was asleep and Joseph was just dozing off when the shepherds arrived. Actually, the smell of sheep arrived first. Shepherds always seemed to be needing a bath - no wonder, Joseph thought to himself. What did they want?
As they all started to talk at once, Mary awoke and signaled them for quiet. But they were too excited to be quiet - to surprised by the angels’ visit to them in the fields, to be silenced tonight. They had been half-asleep themselves, they said, watching their flocks of sheep sleep safely through the night - not too far from here, really. And then the brightest light illuminated the sky! And angels appeared in the sky - singing the most words and sound they had ever heard. They were fully awake by now and listening to every word from the angels lips.
“Glory to God in the highest!” the angels had said. “Peace on earth to men on whom his favor rests!” (Luke 2:14) The shepherds quickly fell on their faces, recognizing the holy angels of God. Shocked into silence, they listened further to the words of the heavenly messengers: “Go into Bethlehem, to a stable; there you will find the babe - the Son of God - wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And so they had hurried to do the angel’s bidding. And in wonderment they all stared at the baby now sleeping in the manger.
“What child is this?” they asked.
