So, Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him cloths and placed him in a manger.

To all outward appearances a new born baby placed in a manger probably didn't raise too many eyebrows. True, being in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, was a little odd. Yet it was necessary considering the circumstances of that child's birth. And I'm fairly sure that Joseph, the supposed father, would have cleaned it out first and arranged some hay for bedding and comfort.

So what's the big deal about the birth of Jesus at Christmas time? Simply this: Who it was that was placed in the manger. The identity of the baby. The baby was no less than the incarnate God; yes, the Almighty God made flesh, become human. In the manger was none less than the God-Baby who grew up as the God-Man.

A Christmas Carol gives poetry to this: "Lo, within a manger lies, He who built the starry skies!"

A scripture gives the truth of the matter: "In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." (Colossians 2v9)

CS Lewis expressed it well through Lucy in his book, The Last Battle. "Once in our world, a Stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” Indeed it did. The manger in the stable had the Almighty Creator in human form lying in it.

How do you explain that? Impossible as it is the mystery of God. If you could explain God you wouldn't worship Him. And we are called to worship God. Christmas invites us to worship God. Why not do so through this beautiful hymn?

Who is He in yonder stall,
At whose feet the shepherds fall?