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Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

While teaching through our church Sunday school lesson this morning, I was struck by the great humility of Jesus. The circumstances of His birth were humble in every regard. Mary’s supernatural pregnancy was looked upon dubiously, resulting in social disgrace. Although His lineage was royal, He was not born to a great or important family. He was not born in an important city, Bethlehem being just a small town of little political significance. His birth was not widely recognized by the people or religious leaders of the time.

If His family had been of note, surely room would have been found for them at the inn. Even in her very pregnant state when folks are likely to be sympathetic and caring, Mary and Joseph were shooed to the stable. Instead of a cradle, the Savior of the world – King of Kings and Lord of Lords – first rest His royal head in the food trough of the barn animals. Yes, we’ve romanticized the manger in centuries of nativity scenes, but the reminder we should come away with is that of His humble arrival and subsequent humble life.

We are no greater than He. Let us not glory in our accomplishments or celebrate ourselves, but instead seek to emulate the humility of the manger-born Messiah.