Christmas Eve: Drawing Near to the Manger

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:4-6, ESV)

The holidays are busy, and the busiest day of them all is Christmas Eve. Today, we have one last opportunity to wrap (or buy) those gifts, clean ourselves up, and get to whatever family gathering we’re going to. For some, this might be all on top of a full workday. To make matters even more frantic, we had one less week this year with Thanksgiving being set so far back.

So today, in the midst of all your hustle and bustle, take a moment to remember this: There was once a man named Joseph and a woman named Mary. They were engaged to be married before God threw a twist into their lives. Mary became pregnant as a virgin with the son of God. 

Then that man and woman travelled to Bethlehem, the city where King David was born, because Joseph’s family line traced back to the treasured king. Once they got there, the scene was probably just as stressful and busy as you feel today.

So instead of a comfortable room in an inn, Mary and Joseph had to share a dusty stable with the animals that lived there. Not only did they sleep there, but Mary had to give birth there. And just like that, Jesus, the Savior of the world, was wrapped in rags and placed in a roughly-hewn manger.

And this is the part that I always stress, yet I’m still in awe of: This was all orchestrated by God. Every last detail, from asking the woman out of wedlock to be Jesus’ mother, to the lowly accommodations that became Jesus’ first home.

If any of these details displeased the Lord, they could have been easily changed, but instead, it pleased the Lord that Jesus be born the way He was. Why? Because it made Jesus more accessible to the people He wanted to save. It made us more comfortable to approach a Savior that was more like the rest of us: more familiar with humble homes rather than palatial estates. A God that was not too good or too mighty to dwell amongst the people and all their provincial problems.

In all reality, Jesus could have chosen to have it all, even if the Father never intended for it to be that way. After all, He was a King, descended from not only God, but earthly royalty as well. If it were Jesus’ prerogative, He could have changed his poor upbringing or His simple lifestyle.

But He didn’t. He chose to be just like us; to look just like us. So in the midst of a busy Bethlehem, a pocket of peace and wonder was created in the most unlikely of places. Jesus was born, and in response, the world drew near to a manger. The world’s elite and law-makers didn’t come to pay their respects, but a group of shepherds. Celebrities and famed warriors didn’t come to worship Him, but a few scholarly wisemen. 

What a wonderful message this gives us: That no matter who we are, or how much status we have, the Lord made a point to be born in such a way that allowed all, even the least among us, to draw near to Him. And yet, almost a whole city passed Him by.

Today, I know you’re busy. In fact, you might be so busy that you are skim-reading this little devotion in order to do me a favor, or to check off your spiritual responsibility for the day. But right now, I encourage you to take a second.

Be like the shepherd, who dropped everything they were doing in the fields, leaving their whole livelihood behind to go and gaze at Jesus. Be like wiseman, who went through great lengths to lay his very best at the feet of the King. Take some time today to pause and draw near to the manger. Do what you have to. Close your eyes and pray, get alone and worship, or take a drive and set your mind on beholding Him. 

Yes, it’s Christmas Eve, but between family gatherings and gift giving, between your last-second foodstore runs and your hurried wrapping, remember the baby Jesus. Remember that somewhere out there, in the middle of all your bustle, there is an opportunity to find a pocket of quiet, where Jesus completely fills and transforms the space and realigns perspective.

Draw near to the manger, friend. Jesus is waiting for you to cherish the day with Him, even if it’s just a moment.