Reflections on the Manger in Luke 2

After 46 years as a United Methodist minister, I retired a couple years ago and spend most days working on the family grain and livestock farm. After preaching during Christmas for 46 years, I guess I still am thinking about aspects of the Christmas story in Luke 2, even though I am not preaching this Christmas season. From the unique perspective of feeding cattle every day, I have been reflecting on the fact that the word manger is used three times in Luke 2 (half of the occurrences of this word in the entire NIV Bible). That detail in the story must be important. Here are some thoughts:

1. Cattle wait by the manger each morning. They stand close by.
2. Cattle can’t fill the manger themselves.
3. It is the only place where cattle are fed. No other place.
4. The manger holds life-sustaining food. Every day.
5. Their hunger is assuaged at the manger.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:11,12)