And she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 God’s loving-kindness and mercy is revealed as Mary placed her infant, Jesus, in the manger. God’s Loving-kindness and mercy was made manifest to even the livestock that resided and rested in and around the Manger.
Do you see it? Consider, the Manger, a place where livestock of oxen, sheep, goats and cattle go for rest, nourishment and even to get fattened for the slaughter for preparation of being offered up as a sacrifice in the Temple; if the animal met the requirement for an acceptable Sacrifice, according to the Levitical Law of Moses and Sacrificial System.
Consider the Loving-kindness and tender mercy of God to His created animals--even the Livestock in and around the Manger, as infant Jesus lay in the Manger; for infant Christ is God’s only begotten Son and He alone will fulfill the sacrifice of all sacrifices and redeem His people with His own blood! There is no more need for animal sacrifices, for God’s only begotten Son offered the sacrifice of all sacrifice. Therefore, all livestock, Go to the Manger, and find rest and restoration and deliverance from the fear and suffering of being sacrificed, No more! For He who sleeps as an infant in the Manger; will one day put an end once and for all to all Sacrifices, for He will be the Sacrifices of all Sacrifices who will become the acceptable and perfect Sacrifice; He who sleeps in the Manger, will one day make propitiation in His blood to Satisfy the Anger and wrath of God against the penalty for the sins of His people. For He who sleeps, Lying in the Mange, as an infant will shelter all the animals as they rest under the Shadow of His Cross to become the substance to put an end to all Sacrifices.
And to the Shepherds who were a very rough, tough, dirty and may have even smelt like the fields even of the dung from the animals sleeping out in the fields guarding their sheep entrusted to their care; .some were mere hirelings who for own profit would steal the livestock and sell directly to the people, ” The Shepherds knew how many lambs were born, how many sheep died, or how much wool was collected?” It was easy to steal, and that was so common that there were laws against buying wool, lambs, and milk directly from shepherds. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, would not associate with shepherds, and most people didn’t trust them. It’s no wonder the shepherds were terrified when an angel appeared. As sinners encountering a mighty warrior of the Holy God, they had every reason to be afraid. But the angel’s words were not judgment but good news: “Do not be afraid” (Calvin Ardsma, TODAY: refresh, refocus, Renew) During that time, it was a cultural practice for some shepherds to steal for sordid gain, that the Pharisees and the Religious Hierarchy that held high positions in the Temple had to enact Laws that would restrict from buying directly from the Shepherds; the people had to purchase their offerings in the Temple from the money changers. Nonetheless, there was nothing indeed, in the Shepherds, whatsoever, that compelled God and moved God to reveal His mercy to them, except that which was according to God’s Sovereign will to have mercy on whom He will have mercy. Therefore, to the Shepherds, the Angel of the Lord did appear that they may be directed to go in the City of David to witness and behold infant Jesus, the Savior, as He lay in the Manger.
Therefore, Go! You Shepherds, to the Manger and find eternal rest for your souls, as you witness and behold the giver of Eternal Life as He lay as an infant in the Manger; Go to the Manger, you Shepherds, and find rest from your labors of herding livestock; for the Sacrifice of all Sacrifices, indeed, once was placed in the Manger. Go, and see the place where He once slept as an infant! Go! You Sinners, no longer to the Shadow but to the substance and final Sacrifice on the cross where Jesus once Hung, and did He ever declare the victorious battle cry, of, “it is finished!” Therefore, Go, you sinners; to the empty tomb where Jesus once lay. And Go! You Sinners, to the throne of Grace, where Jesus ascended to and imparts everlasting life for all who believe on His name, indeed! For there the Grace and the Love of God was indeed made manifest in His only Begotten Son, where His favor indeed rests; where you can find the Grace of God and Mercy and Loving-kindness of God To end all Sacrifices in the Blood of the spotless Lamb of God!
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