Why did Jesus come?

Manger (mān-jər) = an open box in a stable designed to hold feed for livestock. If Jesus was the Son of God, and if God could orchestrate every detail of his birth, why would he choose a feeding trough for the entrance of this baby into the world? Why not a palace, or a medical facility, or at least a nice home?

Actually, the symbolism of a manger is fascinating! When a shepherd could, he would take his pregnant sheep to a stall to give birth and then place the newborn lamb in a manger. When Jesus came 2,000 years ago, it wasn’t to conquer the world, but to be the sacrificial Lamb of God. John the Baptist once saw Jesus and said in John 1:29: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jesus was a man on a mission. He came to be a sacrifice, a full and complete payment for the sins of everyone. He intentionally became our substitute so that we could be pardoned, forgiven, and set free. A manger makes perfect sense when you understand the reason Jesus came. The next time you see a manger scene, take a minute to be thankful that Jesus, the Lamb of God, rejected a palace and chose a lowly manger in order to accomplish our salvation.