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Luke 2:8-12
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
History is full of famous or accomplished people who rose from very humble beginnings.
Benjamin Franklin was the 15th of 17 children born into the home of a candle maker. He had just two years of formal schooling but eventually became one of the most famous men in American history.
Abraham Lincoln was born in a one-room cabin to farmer parents and received only 18 months of formal education and yet managed to become the 16th President of the United States.
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 19th century America, was completely self-educated, but who eventually overcame all that to become an accomplished politician, author and business leader.
But none of these wonderful stories matches the story we read in Luke 2.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
A couple of weeks ago I talked about the surprise of this part of the story. We are so used to singing “Away in a Manger” that we scarcely see the scandalous humility of a child born to be King but lying in a barnyard feeding trough.
Why? Why would the God of the universe choose to send his son into the world in such an undignified and downright messy way?
Perhaps to give us a hint of who that child was and what he came to do. The Apostle Paul writes:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, and that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11
This is a different kind of glory. This is not glory that draws attention to itself. This is not glory as in “celebrity” that demands special rights and privileges. This is glory “incognito.” This is glory that serves. This is glory that is humble enough to obey. This is glory that dies so that others may live.
This is the glory of the manger.
This is the glory of the cross.
This is the glory of Jesus.
Brian Coffey
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