What might be the most interesting point of the whole passage we are reading over tomorrow night at church (Luke 2:1-40), might be the significance of the manger.

Yes, the small water trough that baby Jesus (8 pounds 6 ounce baby Jesus, according to Ricky Bobby) was born in, that can brings a certain significance to this story of Jesus coming to earth.

The manger you see is a sign. It’s a finger pointing to the bigger story of a King coming redeem the earth, in a way never expected. In a time where Caesar Augustus had declared himself the son of god (through announcing his father Julius as Divine), and that he would restore justice and peace (without necessarily being peaceful) from his throne, we have a small boy who was born in a manger, the possible king of Israel and perhaps king of the world, born in Bethlehem.

And yet it was Augustus who required a census that caused the traveling of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. So before us we have a confrontation of Kingdoms: Augustus and his worldly kingdom, and Jesus in His Kingdom of God.

Then the shepherds enter the scene, led by an angel, they see the manger and it clicks:

"You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Then it hits them, this is very similar to when David was revealed as king of Israel in jewish history, as a young boy in Bethlehem. And now the true king is now identified, and Mary and Joseph can now breath a sigh of relief that someone else also has been informed about the incredible situation at hand. God is here, He has been born in a manger, and has been revealed to shepherds.

Now we have been introduced to the outline of Luke’s gospel, that Jesus is the true world leader and Caesar Augustus is not. We are introduced to a story about suffering, specifically in the lives of Simeon and Anna, and eventually in Jesus’ death and resurrection. We see that salvation is not just for Israel or Rome, but for the whole world even though it was not what Israel wanted or expected. And this passage invites us to enter the story of God through all the different characters to figure out where we fit in God’s story of redemption.

What is your role in Gods plan?

Are you active publicly in active, obvious ministries, or practical care? Or maybe you are involved in more private prayer for God to fulfill promises, and systems of justice? Most likely it is both, as our roles are encouraged and defined by people like the characters in the story.

So it begs the question of us: How has understanding the different gifts, roles of people in your community allowed you to be more of who God created you to be? How has this increased your worship or fellowship of God and His community?

Interesting thoughts to come tonight…