The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry

Dear Friend,

“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” (Lk. 2:7).

The Nativity scene is synonymous with the birth of Jesus Christ. When we see a stable with a man and woman kneeling before a babe in a manger, we think of the remarkable night the Son of God entered the world in human flesh. It was a lowly birth, and it endears us to the Christ child.

But few understand why the birth of Christ went so unnoticed by the world. God’s only begotten Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, entered the world in an unexpected setting. Kings are born into the world with exuberant celebration, not in humble places where animals are kept.

Growing up, I knew a milk farmer in the church my father pastored. When I was 13 years old, he paid me to do chores on his farm. I quickly learned that animals make messes and stink. Unlike children today who are born in a sterile environment, Christ was born in the presence of smelly animals. A manger—a trough used to feed the dirty animals—was used for His bed.

We know of no witnesses to the physical birth of our Savior other than Mary and Joseph. Using a census, God brought them to Bethlehem from Nazareth so the prophecy of Micah 5:2 would be fulfilled: “Bethlehem Ephrathah, . . . out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

Mary and Joseph likely traveled with other family members to Bethlehem to be counted and sought accommodation with family living in Bethlehem. Luke records that “there was no room for them” in what English translations call an “inn,” but the Greek word used means “upper room” or “lodging room.” The many family members visiting Bethlehem filled their relative’s upper room. With so many sleeping in the chamber, it was no place for a birth to occur.

Homes in Jesus’ day were typically small, and some had an open room on the second floor where people slept at night. The ground floor was used for cooking and storing goods. One corner of the first floor was used to pen animals for the night. Many believe Jesus was born in a stable, while others think it was a cave, although there is no direct mention of either in the biblical account. But a first-floor room adjoined to the animal pen of a relative’s home fits well with Luke’s description of the place of Jesus’ birth.

There is no biblical record of the relatives and neighbors of Christ's family attending to His delivery. Only Mary and Joseph are pictured at the birth, along with the animals. Perhaps, to the family, His birth during the night was just a common event - one they slept through.

Revelation 12 gives us insight into why King Jesus’ birth in the still of the night was so uneventful compared to the normal fanfare at the birth of royalty. John paints an image of a dragon, Satan, standing before a woman, Israel, who is about to give birth, waiting to devour her male Child, Jesus Christ, as soon as He is born (v. 4). To protect the Christ Child from Satan, God brought Him into the world without notice except for a few shepherds sent by an angel to be witnesses of the newly born Savior of Israel, the Messiah (Lk. 2:11).

At Christmastime, we make Jesus’ humble and lowly birth central to our celebration. We cherish the simple scene of Mary, Joseph, and newborn Jesus laying in a manger, along with a few animals and shepherds. God chose the time, season, and setting for His Son’s birth to ensure that Satan’s plan to destroy the Messiah before He could mature and complete the work of redemption would fail.

It’s part of the miracle of Christmas. Not only did God become flesh, but He chose an obscure entrance for His only begotten Son to protect Jesus’ anonymity until it was time to be revealed that He was the long-awaited, promised Messiah through His miraculous works and marvelous words.

This year, when you encounter the beloved Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” be reminded that the birth of Christ while the world slept was all part of God’s amazing plan to save us from our sins.

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love

Wishing you peace on earth,

Jim Showers, DMin
Executive Director/President

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