The Place of Birth to
The Place of Death
By Charles Wages

"And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7)

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, " (Luke 23:33)

The greatest life ever lived, the greatest events ever recorded about life on earth, are found between the two events, the birth in a manger, the death on a cross.

We wonder about why He was born in a manger. A day old baby in a stable! The mother's firstborn child came into the world in a place where cattle were kept and fed! Only Luke's gospel uses the term "manger" to describe the place our Lord was born. It is found three times in the second chapter of Luke. In verse seven, it tells us of Mary I who "brought forth her firstborn son" and laid him in the manger, "because there was no room in the inn. " In verse twelve, we are told he was in the manger as a sign to the shepherds. In verse sixteen, we are informed that Mary, Joseph, and the babe were found "lying in a manger." The only other time this word is used is also found in Luke - chapter 13, verse 15. Here, this place is called a "stall " and clearly teaches that it was a place for cattle to be kept and fed.

But, why a manger? In Philippians, chapter two, is, possibly, the most important answer to the question. We will never be able to fully fathom the tremendous truth of this statement. It needs our most careful and reverent consideration. We are told that He,

"Made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Phil 2:7)

Yes, "he humbled himself" and was born in a manger. He could have chosen the most elegant dwelling in the land, but He purposed to be born in a stable! Who can know the grace of our Lord? It is stated in 2 Corinthians 8:9,

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich."

This wonderful person, who is the saviour of all humankind, ended His life at a place called "the skull". It is not known whether "Calvary" was a place of dead men's skulls, or that the rounded hill looked like a skull. In any event, it was the place where our Lord was crucified. Think of it. From a lowly manger where He was born to a place of humiliation and disgrace! From lying in a manger to being lifted up on a cross, and in between, He didn't have a place to lay His head!

This lowly birth has become the greatest birth ever known. This terrible, horrible death has become the greatest death known to man. And to think, it was all accomplished because God loved us so much. When it is realized that crosses and crucifixion was reserved for slaves or those who had committed terrible crimes, it becomes even more remarkable that He, of such a lowly beginning, should suffer such a shameful, disgraceful, humiliating, ending. Also, it must be known that those to be crucified had to endure scourging, that is, beaten with leather thongs. In addition, they were tied or nailed to the cross, and their legs eventually broken, although the latter did not occur to our Lord.

I wonder today when we think of the birth of Christ, do we really understand its significance? Should it just be a time of merriment or worldly entertainment? Why was He born in a manger? Why did He die on a cross? Why was His birth so lowly? Why was His death so ignominious? John 3:16 gives the answer as to our individual salvation,

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Galatians 6:14 gives the answer to our life and service for Him,

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

And, how could it be more simply and profoundly stated than in I Timothy 1:15,
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."