For many of us, that's where Jesus is. A cute little baby lying in a manger. He's smiling and cooing and generally looking harmless. He fills us with good feelings, as healthy, beautiful babies do. We never hear a whimper, never a cry. He’s the perfect baby.
Away in a manger
It's convenient to leave Jesus there. A harmless baby, making no demands on us. We don't even have to change His diaper. We can go about our lives without thinking of Him, then return to the stable to find that happy, smiling baby.
It's convenient to leave Jesus there. A harmless baby, making no demands on us. We don't even have to change His diaper. We can go about our lives without thinking of Him, then return to the stable to find that happy, smiling baby.
Away in a manger
Part of a nativity scene to be pulled out once a year. Almost lost among the sheep and cattle and shepherds and wise men and angels. A tiny piece in a larger set, all wrapped up in tissue paper and stored away at season's end. Placed in a box next to Santa and his elves, right under the Christmas lights and tree decorations.
Part of a nativity scene to be pulled out once a year. Almost lost among the sheep and cattle and shepherds and wise men and angels. A tiny piece in a larger set, all wrapped up in tissue paper and stored away at season's end. Placed in a box next to Santa and his elves, right under the Christmas lights and tree decorations.
Away in a manger
Away from me. Away from the real world. Tucked away, stored away. That tiny baby is part of another time, another reality. A figure from history, maybe, or maybe just a part of a legend that men have passed on for hundreds of years. Either way, that tiny baby just doesn't seem to fit in the harsh realities of the twenty-first century.
Away from me. Away from the real world. Tucked away, stored away. That tiny baby is part of another time, another reality. A figure from history, maybe, or maybe just a part of a legend that men have passed on for hundreds of years. Either way, that tiny baby just doesn't seem to fit in the harsh realities of the twenty-first century.
Away in a manger
If that's your view of Jesus, I want to encourage you to take a look at what the Bible says about Him. His birth is a tiny part of the story of Jesus, so small in fact that it goes unmentioned in two of the four gospels. That manger is overshadowed in the Bible by a cross, dwarfed by the reality of an empty tomb. Jesus didn't come to earth to be a cute baby. He came to give His life on a cross. His whole life centered around that. Having given His life, He was placed in a tomb, laid on a stone slab not unlike the stone manger where He was first placed. But, just as He left that manger years before, He left the tomb behind as well, coming forth as the conquering Lord of Lords, defeating death in one mighty act of triumph.
Tim Archer is the author of Church Inside Out and leads a seminar by the same name on behalf of Hope For Life, a Herald of Truth ministry. (Visit the Author's Website)
If that's your view of Jesus, I want to encourage you to take a look at what the Bible says about Him. His birth is a tiny part of the story of Jesus, so small in fact that it goes unmentioned in two of the four gospels. That manger is overshadowed in the Bible by a cross, dwarfed by the reality of an empty tomb. Jesus didn't come to earth to be a cute baby. He came to give His life on a cross. His whole life centered around that. Having given His life, He was placed in a tomb, laid on a stone slab not unlike the stone manger where He was first placed. But, just as He left that manger years before, He left the tomb behind as well, coming forth as the conquering Lord of Lords, defeating death in one mighty act of triumph.
Away in a manger? Is that where Jesus is for you?
Away in a manger? Hardly. The risen Lord sits at the right hand of God, offering life and victory to all who would follow Him. Now that December 25 has passed, go ahead and pack away that little baby boy. But don't think that you've left the Lord Jesus lying in a manger. He's left it far behind.The risen Lord offers life and peace and hope to all who would come to Him. Contact me at tim@hopeforlife.org to know more. Or visit our blog at www.hopeforlife.org/blog to discuss more.
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"Away in a Manger" by Tim Archer is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Heartlight encourages you to share this material with others in church bulletins, personal emails, and other non-commercial uses. Please see our Usage Guidelines for more information.
"Away in a Manger" by Tim Archer is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Heartlight encourages you to share this material with others in church bulletins, personal emails, and other non-commercial uses. Please see our Usage Guidelines for more information.
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