“A Way in a manger"
A Way in a manger - written by Leigh Riches.
© 2005 Oakden Baptist Church.


This is a transcript of the voice-over of the ‘A Way in a manger” multi-media file available for free download at:
http://www.oakdenbaptist.org.au/media/A_Way.mpg

A Way in a Manger

Away in a manger lies a baby, born some 2000 years ago to a virgin in a small stable in Bethlehem. Even as myriad's of angels announced His birth in the heavens and shepherds hurried to meet Him, perhaps no-one really knew what had happened that night..... God had become man, and was lying in a manger.


As the carpenter Joseph studied the baby’s tiny hands did he wonder what he would use them for? God had plans for these tiny hands.... in the years to follow they would perform many miracles, they would cause blind eyes to open and dead people to live. They would be hands of teaching, guidance - they would reach out to the lame, the sick, the outcast - they would stretch out and become hands of love.

As Mary gazed at His little feet did she wonder where those feet would take Him? The dusty roads He would walk, that paths He would travel to find those who needed Him most. Feet that would walk on water, feet that would one day walk up a stony hill and be nailed to a cross.

What would this baby see, what would he hear , what would He say?

His eyes would be filled with compassion as He looked out on a lost world - they would fill with tears as he asked His Father to forgive them. His ears would hear the cry of the helpless, the call of children, and the words “crucify Him”. His words would be the very Word of God - “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through Me. “

His body, small and weak, would grow to become a man - and one day be broken for all mankind - A sacrifice of love for all who believe in Him.

This was God lying amongst the straw that still bethlehem night.

This humble birth, on a night long ago, would be the most wonderful birth in history -
when God gave His Son as the first Christmas gift. The night that God provided a way for man to be forgiven, A way for man to be saved, A way for man to know God himself, A WAY - IN A MANGER.