Who Is The Baby In The Manger?

Would you rather listen than read? Listen here.

Live Nativity

Let’s go back a few years to when Barbie and Strawberry Shortcake were at the top of my Christmas list. Our small town offered a lot at Christmas. We had a fun Christmas parade and Santa would always come to the Heritage House Museum, where animated toys, elves, and lots of Christmas cheer surrounded him. Our church also put on a live nativity. I remember going several times as a child and I marveled as the story came alive right in front of me.

When we lived in Orlando, one December, my husband and I took our small children to Dolly Parton’s Stampede. This was a dinner show that involved lots of horses, dancing, and singing. As the show came to a close, the lights dimmed and “Silent Night” began to play.

From the ceiling, a new stage appeared with a live nativity. As Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus appeared above, so did camels and donkeys around the arena. It was a sight to behold. You felt immersed in the story.

The Manger

Every time I see a live nativity, I am drawn into the manger. I wonder how cold it was. It had to smell, but did they notice with all the activity going on? Were the animals curious about what happened before them? My buddy Comanche is curious about everything.

Did passers-by have a clue what was happening? Was Maray afraid? Did Mary and Joseph, who had angel encounters, even know the magnitude of what they were participant to?

Kings

Throughout the Old Testament, we read of priests, prophets, and kings. Every community had a king. The nation of Israel had kings, and when they split into Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom), they each then had kings. The kings led the people.

Prophets

There were also prophets. The role of the prophet in the Old Testament was to speak to the people on behalf of God. We see the incredible boldness of the prophets as they spoke to the people and shared things they did not want to hear. The lives of the prophets were often at risk from the people and the kings when they spoke against their actions.

Priests

In addition, in the Old Testament, we read of priests. Priests were not called as they are now, but born into it. If they were from the tribe of Levi, they were priests. They made the sacrifices on behalf of the people to atone them for their sins, and they spoke to God on behalf of the people.

The Baby In The Manger

But then one night, when there were no rooms left, a baby was born in a manger. A baby that came to fulfill all, King, Prophet, and Priest. This little baby grew up to become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He became the great High Priest and the Prophet above all prophets.

This little baby Jesus grew up to be a man, experiencing every emotion we would come to feel. He then took a horrific beating for us and then died on the cross. At the moment of His last breath, what they once knew came to completion and the new covenant began.

“Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Hebrews 7:22-25 NIV

Our High Priest

Verses 26-28 tells us Jesus is such a great High Priest because He is: holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He does not need to offer sacrifices for Himself because He has no sin and already took on the sins of the world and became the ultimate sacrifice.

Prophet Of Prophets

Prophets like Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Elisha, Elijah, and Isaiah were incredible. The prophets risked their lives to share what God wanted shared with the people. Elijah prayed until fire fell from Heaven. Elisha prophesied till dry dead bones came alive. They raised people from the dead; they healed the sick and performed many miracles. Christ came and did all of this, and even more. Making Him the Prophet above all prophets.

King Of Kings

I wonder if when Mary held her baby, if she knew the way He would die and become the final priest. Did she think about what it really meant to hold the One who would conquer death? The one that gets me the most is, do you think she ever could have imagined He would become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Just saying these last words brings tears to my eyes.

Maybe it is my love for horses that I love this scene so much, or the power it will bring forth, but can you imagine what it will be like when we see Jesus return on the white horse?

“The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’”

Revelation 19:14-17 NIV

Do You Know Jesus?

You still have the opportunity to know this High Priest, Prophet of prophets, and King of kings. Jesus wants to know you. He came to Earth because of His great love for each of us. He knows everything you have done, and He still loves you. If you know Him already, I praise God for you. If you have not, I invite you to pray this prayer with me.

“Lord, I come before you with everything I have, my sin, my shame, my fears, and everything I love. I lay it before you. I thank you that you came to Earth as a tiny baby and lived a life as a man and experienced everything I have experienced. You died on the cross for my sin and took it all away. Thank you, that you went into the grave and rose three days later and now sit at the right hand of God the Father. Thank you, that through this I can be free. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed this for the first time, Heaven is celebrating with you. I am celebrating with you. I would love to hear from you and celebrate with you.

I pray for each of you that this coming Christmas will be a blessing and you come face to face with the baby in the manger and know Him personally as your Prophet, Priest, and King.

I pray for each of you that this coming Christmas will be a blessing and you come face to face with the baby in the manger and know Him personally as your Prophet, Priest, and King. Share on X Capture all those Special Christmas Moments with our Christmas Memories Journal from Promptly Journals