The Lord Jesus was “born,” God coming to earth, just as the Old Testament prophesied and just exactly as the New Testament recorded.

Here’s Luke 2:7. “And she (Mary the Virgin) brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and LAID HIM IN A MANGER; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Jesus was laid in a “manger?”

Yes, and the word (“phatne” in Greek) means “feeding trough!”

By the way, only Luke incorporates that word in the Christmas Story, not Matthew.

Why was Jesus placed there, in such a strange place?

Because, obviously, there were animals nearby.

The noun “inn” is “kataluma,” which means “inn” once in the Bible (right here) and then means “guest chamber” twice elsewhere in the Bible. See Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11 for the “guestchamber” references.

Thus Jesus was born in a rather rustic setting!

Baby Jesus and the animals!

No wonder the song writer (“Away in a Manger”) has the cattle lowing!

This is Jesus Who created those animals in the first place! John 1:3 … “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

This is Jesus Who was “with the wild animals” during His 40 Day Temptation! Mark 1:13 … “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.”

This is Jesus Whom the animals obeyed during His Lifetime! The fish and the roosters and the donkeys!

And the very Same Jesus Who will ride a “white horse” from Heaven when he comes again, Revelation 19:11.

Plus, when he begins His Millennial Kingdom on earth … “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

Laid in a “manger,” at Birth!

How appropriate!

This is the Jesus Who also had Solomon to write (Proverbs 12:10) … “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Kindness to animals, of course!

That’s Jesus, my Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell