Jesus Changes EverythingSample

The birth of Jesus has been captured for centuries in songs that we now know as Carols.

About 1884, an anonymous hymnist wrote the hymn, “Away In A Manger”.

The song is inspired by Luke’s Gospel. In Luke 2:7 it tells us the baby Jesus was laid in a manger. So, what is a manger? Put simply, it was a feeding trough. It contained the fodder for the animals in the stable.

Have you ever thought about that?! - A baby – in a manger… with animals.

Yes, it may seem like a cute nativity scene with a little lamb and donkey, but the birth of Jesus in a manger is a dramatic example of the equality of all people before God.

I think one of the reasons the gospel starts at a point of hopelessness is that it relates to us. It speaks to the human heart. And here’s what it says: Jesus makes His home in stables.

Have you been around animals? These places are a mess. They smell. Camels, donkeys. Horses. Chickens.

Stables are imperfect. Unpretentious. Non-religious.

Stables speak of messy places.

I think stables represent the human condition. We are messy, imperfect. And Jesus is willing to come into my life.

If Jesus was willing to go to a stable of animals… a messy place, the lowest place – it tells me Jesus is willing to come right into the midst of my brokenness. It doesn’t have to be all clean, and perfect, and everything in order, and all the right paperwork done, and then Jesus would visit.

You got issues? Jesus makes His home in stables.

You got imperfections? Jesus makes His home in stables.

You got a past? Jesus makes His home in stables.

Stables are messy and imperfect – but Jesus can walk into your messy and imperfect life.

• You might say I’ve been divorced.

• I’ve been in poverty.

• I’ve lived my way into debt.

• I’m addicted to alcohol.

• I’ve lived a selfish life.

• I’ve made some bad choices in life.

• I’m not a religious person.

• My life is a mess!

You messed up? Great – that’s the perfect accommodation for Jesus. Jesus walks into our messy lives and He changes everything.

Jesus makes His homes in stables.