This article is based on a message preached at our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service in 2018.

“4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:4-7).

After Jesus was born, He was placed in a manger. This was a feeding trough for animals. Jesus was born in an area where animals were kept. Joseph and Mary used whatever was at their disposal to take care of the newborn Jesus.

There’s an old Christmas song that commemorates this event. It’s called Away in a Manger. You may recall its lyrics. “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” The song paints sentimental feelings in our hearts. It tugs at the emotions.

This stands to reason. The story of Christ’s birth has been celebrated year after year for centuries. It has been coupled with some of the warmest, tenderest, most compassionate gestures known to history.

It is important to ask why. What’s all the fuss about the birth of this little baby? Why do Christians always want to point to the reason for the season? Why shouldn’t we just be content with twinkling lights, reindeer, and elves? Why must we bring religion into it? Simply stated, if what the Bible says about the One born in Bethlehem is true, then how we relate to Him is the most important matter we will ever consider.

Away In a Manger is a beautiful favorite song this time of year. I don’t seek to undercut this. However, the importance of Jesus’ birth is that He was The Way in a manger. Jesus, after He was all grown up, made this incredible claim. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).  Jesus was telling His disciples about the way to heaven in this passage. He had the nerve to say that He was the way. In fact, He went on to say there is no other way.

This kind of statement doesn’t sit well with our generation. They don’t want one way. They want their way. They don’t want to offend people of other beliefs. Yet Jesus never backed down from His claims, even when faced with execution. They want to be able to say that anyone’s belief is equally valid. But the Jesus of Scripture embraces a narrower definition of truth. In fact, Jesus’ claim here is very bold. Some modern sensibilities might consider it obnoxious. It is a claim to exclusivity. That is, Jesus says He’s the only way to the Father. What are we to do with such a statement?

The late, brilliant author, C. S. Lewis is famous for the so-called Liar-Lunatic-Lord argument to answer the question. He brought it up in his book, Mere Christianity, in which he argues for the deity of Christ. Lewis suggested that when confronted with the raw claims of Jesus, we are only left with three logical conclusions. He was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord.

Was Jesus a liar? Afterall, we have all heard of religious charlatans. These people make bold, religious claims, gain a following, and become religious icons. They often make a lot of money in the process. So, maybe, Jesus was like one of them.

Jesus as a liar is a theory with some significant problems. For example, Jesus never capitalized on His fame. He didn’t use it to gain wealth. He didn’t use it to build an army. He didn’t use it to manipulate people in any way. Every indication is that He believed his own claims.

Another problem is that Jesus was extremely honest. Some would probably say He was honest to a fault. He told the Pharisees exactly what He thought of them. He did the same with the chief priests and the Sadducees. He did this knowing that it could lead to His ruin. Bottom line… the character of Jesus, as presented in the Bible, is strikingly honest. He, apparently, believed His own stuff.

Was Jesus a lunatic? In other words, maybe Jesus was just a well-meaning man that struggled with mental health issues. Those with severe mental illness have been known to claim divine status.

This theory faces some problems as well. Jesus didn’t act like a person in need of psychiatric care. He exhibited no signs of being delusional. Every indication in Scripture is that He was a rational, healthy individual. He carried on rational conversations with people. His emotions seemed to always line up well with the circumstances around Him. This leads to C.S. Lewis’ third option.

Was Jesus Lord? His claims were incredible to say the least. He forgave sins. He claimed to be God’s Son. He equated Himself to the One Moses spoke to in the burning bush (John 8:58-59; Compare Exodus 3:13-14). A sober consideration of the Scriptures makes clear that He claimed to be something more than any mere human being.

Many people seem to want Jesus on their own terms. For many, this means they want to like Jesus. They want to admire Jesus. They are content to view Jesus as a heroic and good moral teacher. In their view, Jesus is like Gandhi, Buddha, or Martin Luther King, Jr. But, for whatever reason, they are uncomfortable seeing Jesus as the true Lord of heaven and earth.

If you want to say that Jesus was good at all, you must also admit that He is Lord of all. Here’s why. If Jesus was lying about being Lord, then He really couldn’t be called good. A truly good, moral teacher would not so flagrantly lie about his own identity. Also, if Jesus were suffering from lunacy (mental illness), then all of His claims come into question. The ravings of a delusional madman don’t normally equate to good moral teaching.

If Jesus was good at all, then He was Lord of all. Lord is the best option, and the only option that will do. The little Lord Jesus sleeping in the manger is our Way, the only Way, to be reconciled to God.

The baby Jesus was laid in a rough, wooden feeding trough at the beginning of His days on earth. At the end, He was nailed to a rough, wooden cross. 1 Corinthians 15:3 reminds us that “Christ died for our sins.” We are forgiven and welcomed by God when we place our faith in Jesus.

The fun and frills of Christmas should not be separated from the very serious mission Jesus came here to accomplish. Jesus said this about Himself. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

No. Jesus was not a liar. He was not mentally ill. He was the Word who became flesh and lived among us (John 1:1, 14). He was the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). If He was just a well-meaning moral teacher to you, then there is no ultimate benefit to admiring Him. He was just a man, like any other, unable to affect your relationship to God. But when you truly place your faith in Him, as the Lord and Savior that He is, then things truly change. You see, He came to reconcile sinful humans to a holy God.

Jesus was The Way in a manger. Don’t ever forget this. Merry Christmas!

Pastor George