"Away in a Manger"

When I was a child my favorite Christmas carol was “Away in A Manger.” We sang a version in which the chorus divided into two parts and half of us would sing “asleep” and then the other half would echo “asleep” in lower tones. Then all together we’d sing, “Asleep the Lord of all.” I loved hearing the volley of voices, but I especially loved thinking about that new born baby in his straw bed, the animals looking on, his mother tenderly swaddling him.

Being a city girl, for me the word manger was synonymous with bed or cradle. No one ever explained to me that a manger is a box used to feed animals. In other words, it is a feeding tough. Our word manger comes from the French word manger which means “to eat.” In Bethlehem the manger in which Mary placed her Son would most probably have been carved out of stone.

stone manger

As I learned these facts about the manger my earlier imaginings began to grow. I now picture Joseph carefully cleaning out the feeding trough worrying about his young wife and the responsibility he had to protect her and the child. I see him gathering the best straw to make a soft nesting place for the baby. I wonder if Mary swaddled the baby herself or if someone was there to help her. According to the law of Moses it was unlawful for a man to witness child birth, but if no one else was available perhaps Joseph had to serve as midwife and nurse. Perhaps he first swaddled the baby and placed Him in the manger.

Whoever did it, I doubt that at the moment the significance of what they did registered with them. Here they were in the House of Bread placing The Bread of Life not in a cradle, but on a feeding trough, a symbolic offering that invites you and I to partake of the Eternal Bread.

I can’t think of that manger cradling the Bread of Life now without being reminded of the weekly feeding tough—the Sacrament table—I visit to partake of the Bread of Life. As I ponder on it, I can hear the words, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger" (John 6:35). "He that eatheth of this bread shall live for ever" (John 6:58), and I am remind that the Bethlehem manger offers Eternal sustenance to all mankind.

Celebrating Christmas - Bethlehem

"Journey to Bethlehm" by Joseph Brickey (click here)

The Nativity begins with the decree that the people of Palestine must participate in an enrollment or census to facilitate the assessing and collecting of taxes. For Joseph and his young bride that meant they must travel about ninety miles south to the town of Bethlehem which would have been at least a five day journey—especially for a pregnant woman. If they traveled the most likely route this meant they went through Jericho (the lowest point on the earth) and then up the hill country to Bethlehem, a hike of 3,500 feet. Having given birth to ten children, the thought of Mary making such a journey shortly before giving birth amazes me.

Bethlehem, years ago

But it was important that she go to Bethlehem. It was well known at the time of the Savior’s birth that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. When the wise men traveled to Jerusalem and inquired of Herod about the new king, Herod assembled his wise men and leaders and “demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:4-6). 

But it is not just prophecy that makes the place significant. The word bethlehem means “house of bread.” I will never forget the amazing feelings that surged through me the first time it struck me that the Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread. Ever since then I can’t think about those words or hear the hymn “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” without feeling the swelling warmth within me once again especially when I hear the last phrase of the hymn, “The dear Christ enters in.”

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem today

Physically the Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread. Spiritually the Bread of Life is born again in everyone who chooses to partake of Him.

The Date of the First Christmas

The exact day of Jesus’ birth is highly debated. If you search it out, you can find theories that propose almost every month of the year. The truth is no one knows for sure when Jesus was born. Celebrating His birth on December 25th began in the fourth century, but earliest Christians celebrated it on Epiphany (the day many believe to be the baptismals date of Jesus Christ) which is January 6th.

I have no clue as to when the exact day was, but some people think that Jesus Christ not only died during Passover, but that He was born during Passover. If that were true it seems the gospels writers would have mentioned it, but whether it is true or not, I like to think about the possibility because the symbolism is so beautiful and thinking about it is the perfect way to begin the Christmas season.

Called by the Jews Pesach, Passover commemorates the Exodus, which delivered the Children of Israel out of the bondage they suffered for so many years in Egypt.

In the book of Exodus we are told how God helped the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the Egyptians. Enduring the plagues which included water turned to blood, an infestation of frogs and flies, suffering with boils on the skin, and enduring deep darkness Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release the Israelites until the final plague in which all the firstborn children of the Egyptians were killed by a destroying angel.

The Israelites, however, escaped this plague because the Lord had instructed them to mark the doorposts of their homes with blood from a sacrificial lamb. When the destroying angel passed through Egypt he passed over any home with blood on the doorposts, thus the name Pesakh which means Passover.

Every year Jews celebrate Pesach by preparing a meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs—symbols of that first miraculous Passover. The meaning of the lamb is obvious—it is about the Lamb of God, the Messiah, who would come to free us from death and the bondage of sin. Because the Israelites left in haste there was no time for bread to rise, thus the unleavened bread which is also a symbol of not being puffed up with sin. And the bitter herbs were to remind them of the long bitter years they were enslaved in Egypt.

Thus if the birth did occur during Passover, on that first Christmas night families throughout the land may have prepared and eaten their the bitter herbs, while the Son of God came into the world to offer a sacrifice that would set right all the bitter experiences of life. They may have eaten unleavened bread while the Messiah was born to save us from sin, and they may have tasted the Passover lamb, at the very moment The Lamb of God was being born.

Whether the first Christmas occured during Passover or not,the symbolism is beautiful. Because He was born, the nullifying effects of death will pass over all of us. He was born to save us, and we will live because He died.

Sabbath Scripture-The Messiah Will Be the Son of God

I will declare the decree: 

the Lord hath said unto me,

Thou art my Son;

 this day have I begotten thee.

Psalm 2: 7

More on the Truth Test

I discovered after yesterday’s post that I had written about the Truth Test before. I just couldn’t find it. But repetition is good.


Like I said yesterday, the Truth Test is especially good for long-term vexation and especially powerful if you write out your feelings and answers. But once you’ve used the Truth Test and learned the questions, it does work for daily vexation to ask yourself the questions in the order they come and ponder the answers. Usually I find myself laughing at myself as I realize that I am out of truth and into illusion. Other times I do get all the way to the last question and then am able to change.

The most important thing about the Truth Test is to use it. I know it sounds like a simple solution to a big problem, but it really works. Try it and then email me and let me know your story.

The Truth Test

I don’t know how I have missed explaining the Truth Test all this time, but a kind reader who had heard me speak about Living in Truth e-mailed me the other day to say she couldn’t find the Truth Test in past posts. The Truth Test is crucial to Living in Truth, but somehow I guess I’ve never talked about it on Good News! So today I’m going to rectify that.

The Truth Test is a powerful Truth Tool that works on daily frustrations but is extra powerful in healing deep seated pain such as what comes from abuse and traumatic experiences. It works best if you actually write out all that you feel (explain all the pain) and then also write the answers to the questions. Just thinking through the answers can be helpful for daily vexation, but the power for healing long existing pain comes from getting the thoughts out of your head and onto paper. If you don’t want anyone to read what you write, burn it after you write it. But WRITE it. I’ll explain more tomorrow, but for today here is the Truth Test.

THE TRUTH TEST

(c) 2011 Sherrie Mills Johnson

I feel _____________________________________________(i.e. sad, angry, jealous, hurt, resentful, offended, fearful, etc.) because __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. What is my expectation? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Is this expectation the truth and nothing but the truth in a mortal world? What is the truth? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Is this necessary or unnecessary pain? ______________________________________________________________________________

4. How would I feel if I stopped expecting this? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is my heart (conscience, divine spirit, God) telling me to do right now? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Make Christmas Last All December

It’s December first! 

I love December because for me Christmas isn’t the 25^th, Christmas is the whole month. 

So I celebrate all month long because of  the opportunity it gives me 

to think about the most important event in the history of the world, 

the birth and Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Like last year I am going to be celebrating here on Good News!
by exploring the symbols of Christmas. Starting on Monday December 5^th,
I will talk about a different symbol each day. It will be similar to what I did last year,
but I will be adding a lot so I hope you will take a moment out of your busy day
to come celebrate with me.
 Read. Leave your comments. Enjoy!

And spread the Good News!
Invite your relatives, friends, neighbors, or even strangers to
Celebrate Christmas with us here on Good News!
After all, the very best news is that Jesus Christ was born to save us all. 

So share this link: Good News! and spread the good cheer.