A King Size Bed

 There are beds for every shape and size, even beds for dogs! Yet, in many parts of the world, children don't get to sleep in their own beds. They sleep on the floor or on a mat, or else share a small bed with others. It is interesting to see how much bigger and more luxurious beds have become in the wealthy West in recent years. Still, we do spend a third of our lives in them, so I suppose they had better be comfortable.

But there was no fancy bed for the King of kings. When Jesus was born he was laid in a feeding trough because there was no room for him in the Inn. Whether formed from pieces of wood as in our picture, or hollowed out from stone, the main purpose of this receptacle was providing food for hungry animals, not being a bed fit for a king. Three times in the brief first part of Luke chapter 2 the gospel writer refers to the manger. It was remarkable to him, as it is to me even today.

It was a borrowed bed. Much later in his life Jesus pointed out that foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests, but he had no place to regularly lay his weary head. Everything Jesus had was lent to him, usually by grateful followers. But, this manger was lent by the animals and their owners. How amazing that the arrival of the Son of God, the world's creator, should be greeted by willing creatures lending him a place to sleep! Jesus still inhabits borrowed quarters. He waits for us to hear his call and lend him our hearts and lives. 

It was a humble bed. No fancy throne here. In Matthew's gospel Jesus said; 'Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls' (Mt 11:29). Jesus chose to humble himself so that we could be lifted up in him! At the cross his lowering of himself became complete. 'God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God' (2 Cor. 5:21).

It was a sign. The angel appearing to the shepherds said as much. 'This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger' (Luke 2:12). The humble manger became a sign of a humble saviour. It pointed to something and someone way beyond its lowly confines. It pointed to the one who can truly be King and Lord of our lives if we will let him. And if we will? Then our lives can become signs also - pointing others to the Christ of Christmas.

Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a glorious New Year!