That, along with about 15 others, HAS to be my favourite Christmas carol without doubt! It is full of Christmas atmosphere – or at least it paints a very English picture of Christmas. Snow everywhere, ground frozen as hard as iron, and water like a stone. You can almost see the carol singers with their woolly hats and scarves going from stable to stable bringing Christmas cheer to all the first time parents they find there!
Carols do tend to paint idyllic pictures, don’t they?
Away in a manger paints such a lovely picture of the nativity scene that you would have to believe that the stable was cleaner than the 20th Century hospital ward! No cots available? Never mind – here’s an old feed box – let’s put some of this lovely hay in it and the baby can sleep there. I guess we have to hope that eczema and asthma had not been invented by then!
But I highly doubt, and I guess so do you, that there was any sanitation. It is even doubtful that there was any fresh hay and straw around – and surely during the stay the animals would not only be lowing, but also leaving their mark on the stable floor, and their smell in the air. When the carol says that the little Lord Jesus makes no crying when he awakes, is it because it was so smelly that he dare not open his mouth, I wonder?!
But the passage of time, and the skilful art of the poet and the hymn-writer have indeed sanitised the birth scene, haven’t they? And because we have seen it acted out year after year after year by the children at school and at church, and at youth fellowship, and at pre-school, and at toddlers group, and at ….. wherever else….. we now see it as a “nice safe story”. We go warm inside when we read it, and rightly so in some ways.
But where is the shock?
Have we forgotten the selfish rush and bustle of the town ? Have we overlooked the power crazed authorities taking their census to raise their taxes? Have we forgotten the fact that no-one would give up their room for the poor woman to give birth in? Are we so sanitized that we forget the sin in the world then – just as we can turn a blind eye to it today?
There was no room in the city,
No room at the inn
There was no room,
For His earthly life to begin
The people weren’t ready -
Were too busy with the things of the earth
They made no room,
For the Lord God’s birth
They took Him down to the stable,
He had to sleep on the hay
Now He invites you to share His table,
Have you room for Him today
It’s the same little baby
As was lying there in the hay
Who invites you to share His table,
Will you make room for the Babe today?
Now see the little Baby,
Hanging there on the cross
A crown of thorns upon His head
It seemed His cause was lost
But do you hear the little baby
say “I am the Way
I invite you to share my table”
Will you make room for the Babe Today?
See the little Baby
Ascended now on high
Seated there in Glory at the Father’s side
Do you know this little Baby
has put and end to sin
And He’s standing there at your heart’s door
just waiting to come in
It’s the same little Baby
as was laying there in the hay
He invites you to share His table
Will you make room for the Babe today?
© Raymond NC Stanyon
No room – can you imagine Joseph trying to convince inn keeper after inn keeper that it was the promised messiah and his family at the door? Or do you think they had seen enough drink inspired foolery already?
And whilst it is possible to imagine the people finding no room for Mary and Joseph – most of them were probably not asked and had the decision made for them by the inn keepers – is it possible to imagine people not making room for the King of kings on the dusty road or the crowded heart now?
John’s Gospel makes a massive statement in just a few words in his first chapter.
“The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us”
The Word – who we have just been told is God Himself – takes on frail flesh, and comes to live among us – not as a king in a princely palace, but as one of us.
Eric Bazilian asked a very pertinent question back in 1995, didn’t he?
Not heard of him?
What ?
Well to be honest, nor had I until I did a Google search for the song “What if God was one of us?”
Originally released by Joan Osbourne, it was written by Eric Bazillian of the band The Hooters (great name for a band!). You may know it by the version sung by Alanis Morissette in 1998 or as the theme tune to the 2003 film “Bruce Almighty”.
I guess the film, although controversial to some, like the song, asked questions of those willing to face them. Just how much bigger than even the best of us, is this God?!
What effect would that question (or rather its answer) have?
The song asks us would we want to see God face to face – even if that would mean that we would have to believe in Him?
But, according to John at least, there is no “what if”. Jesus DID come and live among humanity, and as the bottom of the social pile as well.
How awesome is that? No wonder they call it “The greatest story ever told”, and no wonder that even those who will not worship with others at any other time of year still pack our churches to get an annual dose of this story.
But what difference does it make?
Graham Kendrick sings a song on his “The Gift – Make Way for Christmas” album that urges us to “let the child be born in your hearts”. And that is often the challenge given out at Christmas Carol services and the like, isn’t it?
And that is a fine response to the story, but it is not the finale to the story!
Kendrick recognised this, and puts it well
“If the babe stays in the manger, then there is no danger from this Christmas child”
So what is the danger? That we would welcome the adult Jesus too? That we would welcome the crucified …. and the one raised to life once more? That we would take up his challenge to be Christlike in every way, and to follow him even on the road marked with suffering and to a cross of crucifixion?
Exactly!
When the Word became flesh and made His dwelling amongst us it was no accident – it was God’s plan. Hebrews talks of God being determined to be in relationship with his people. He sent the Law and the Prophets, and ultimately and finally he sent us His Son.
So what? I mean, “So what will we do with the Word became flesh?”
Will we get him out of the box with the tinsel and then put him away again? Or will we truly open up our hearts to welcome Him to truly make his dwelling with us – to pitch his tent – to make himself well and truly at home, changing our life to remove any obstacles?
I know which I want to do – will you pray with me that I will have the strength to do it daily? Ok – I’ll pray for you too!
Have a really happy and joyful Christmas!
This is an advent hymn – telling the story of Jesus’ first coming, and talking of His Second Coming too. Living for him each and every day here on earth is the true preparation of seeing him on judgement day and spending eternity with Him. So let’s be ready!