Were You Born in a Barn?

You remember what your mother said to you, don’t you, whenever you burped loudly at the table or displayed some other obvious sign of improper etiquette or behavior?

With wide eyes and a horrified tone, the words were uttered with extreme reproach.

“Where are your manners? Were you born in a barn?”

The words were meant to straighten you up and bring about an apology of the sincerest form.

Maybe sometimes it did. Other times you may have shrugged it off, laughing to hide your embarrassment.

You know, because barns are dirty and disgusting, and to be brought down to such a level was humiliating.

True. It is.

So then… what about Jesus’ introduction to this earth?

Jesus didn’t enter this earth by way of a royal dwelling.

He wasn’t born in a middle-class hotel or even a low-budget establishment.

He was born in a barn, probably the dirtiest building in the village!

Surrounded by Joseph, his mother, and at least one donkey, Jesus made his humble appearance.

Respectable people were not told of his coming. The religious ones were unaware that the Messiah they were looking for was here.

No. God sent the angel to shepherds, the lowest, dirtiest kind of folk. Men whose social standing was somewhat akin to tax collectors and disreputable sinners.

Was the entrance of Heaven to earth conducted in a humiliating manner?

Maybe.

But I wonder if God planned it that way because people like shepherds and sinners experience humiliation. They know they are dirty. They have no trouble admitting that they need someone to clean up their lives.

And that has always been God’s desire; to reach into our dirty, messy lives and clean us up. It is the whole reason the angels were singing that night.

The angel’s message was clear.

There was cause for the greatest of joy!

“This day in the city of David there has been born FOR YOU a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 AMP

Jesus humbled himself and came to live with us on earth. He became a servant, He identified himself as a shepherd, and He provided a way for us to be rid of the dirty sin in our lives.

Maybe it makes sense, after all, that He was born in a barn.

One more thing.

In this busy Christmas season, you may find yourself exhibiting embarrassing or bad behavior and hear a voice that asks incredulously, “Were you born in a barn?!”

When you do, answer it with “No, but Jesus was. And He came for me! I am clean because of Him.”

Then go on your way, free from humiliation, and share the news about Jesus with great joy!