Where Else Would A Lamb be Born?

As Christians, we've heard the Christmas story so many times, year after year, that we often take for granted the part of the story where the angels tell the shepherds, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) (NIV). What's so unusual about that?

What's so unusual about that is that the Israelites were not expecting their Messiah to be born in a lowly stable among animals. For hundreds of years, the Israelites had been looking for the long awaited Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who would reign majestically and deliver His people from their persecution. Most of them would have never fathomed that this king would come to Earth in the form of a baby, let alone be born in a stable and be found lying in a manager.

The word “lamb” is mentioned in the Bible exactly 100 times, and in almost every case, it is referring to a sacrifical lamb or the Passover lamb. In the beginning of the story, no one really knew the significance of Jesus being born in a lowly stable. No one, that is, except John the Baptist. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) (NIV). John's whole purpose on this Earth was to point the way toward the coming King, Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Jesus could have come to this Earth in magnificient splendor.

“ Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! “ (Philippians 2:6-8)

May we never again take for granted the story of Jesus born in a lowly stable and found wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. May you now see this though the eyes of God's love.

Where Else Would A Lamb Be Born? Performed by Steve Amerson