What's That Manger?

What is That Manger?

37) On that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, who those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 (NKJV)

This morning, while looking at one of the creches my wife displays this time of year, I considered the babe in the manger. Let me tell you what I think I know.

The accommodation for Mary and Joseph was a stable, as in a cave or protected overhang of rock. In it, cattle were fed and watered because there wasn’t a field for them to pasture with a stream running through it. Think downtown Bethlehem.

The manger we’ve come to know now, wasn't a wooden structure then, but rather a carved out stone object. Think about what that scene looked like. Hay strewed about. Cattle standing and chewing their cud while others lie content in their surroundings. But where was their water supply?

Consider what it would mean if an impervious-to-water stone manager was used to water the cattle, rather than to feed them.

Jesus, the Living Water, gets displayed to all who visit by the most fundamental visual of Christ. From shepherds to Wise Men, poor to rich, all who see Him learn from His very first parable. Come to me and drink.

This brings new revelation to me of how John 7:37-39 brings into focus the ministry of Jesus Christ from His birth.

Breathing In, Speaking Out

 

After working in emergency medicine in the field for a few years, one begins to obtain finesse in handling various patients. Focusing on equipment and gear can often leave you wondering why the patient deteriorates. Some patients don’t get better no matter what you do. Then there was the lady patient a friend treated years ago. She was having difficulty breathing. He’d done all the correct things; establishing oxygen flow, inquiring about allergies and medicine taken, and listening for abnormal lung sounds. None of which assisted her breathing.

In the process of further examination he found that the bra strap in back was so tight he couldn’t get a finger under it. He deftly withdrew his bandage scissors and clipped it in two. The lady let out a huge sigh of relief and her breathing difficulties ended. To this day, whenever he meets a female with breathing difficulty the first thing he does is cut the bra strap.

Air movement is essential to life. Air must come into our bodies so that air can be discharged or used for voice communication. God tells us to speak His kingdom into this earth and shows us how He spoke creation. Scripture encourages us to pray in the Spirit without ceasing. Yet, when we even think about doing so, it seems impossible for us to take in a breath required to speak those sounds. And, if you’re like Paul and your habit is to pray more than others, it isn’t easy to skip the appointed time because of the lack of air in your lungs.

God gives nine examples in Genesis of how speaking creates results. But speaking without His power creates neither results nor improvement. Some time ago I realized that in all the instances of Jesus’ healing ministry, it required a) the gospel, b) the spoken word of healing and c) the act of faith by the one being healed. Can you wonder if the man lowered through the roof would have been healed if he hadn’t gotten up off that mat? Or if the man who was told to dip seven times in the Jordan had never done that? Or if poor blind Bartimaeus hadn’t walked down the road?

Is something bothering you? Use your words to change it, and step out in faith. It’s God’s way.