The Secret of the Stable

Some people believe that when the wise men arrived to give gifts to our Savior, Jesus Christ, on Epiphany, they were the first to bow down to Him.  But this is not so.  There is a secret that not many people know, a secret about the night when the Christ child was born.  The night He was born, a magical thing happened in the stables far away.

On the Eve of the very first Christmas, the night was very cold, and the stars were very bright.  Mary and Joseph, weary from miles and miles of travel, searched for an inn where they could lay down their weary heads for the night.  But Mary soon realized that she was to give birth to Jesus on that very night. 

As she felt the pangs of labor creep up on her, Joseph frantically knocked on the doors of all the houses and all the Inns.  But there was no room for them.  Joseph, his eyes sad, began to lead Mary away from the houses, worried that his son would be born in the cold.  

As they walked away from the very last house, candles dimly lighting the windows, a very old man opened the door and called to Joseph.  He had seen the couple and his heart welled with pity and sorrow at their plight.  He beckoned them to follow him to a small stable behind his modest house.

Mary, in much pain, thanked God for even this small mercy, and followed Joseph to the stable.  The man led them inside, his lantern casting yellow light on the golden hay that blanketed the ground.  Joseph gently made a bed of straw for his wife, soothing her as she lay down.  As the kind man left, he said, “I am sorry you must sleep with the dirty animals,” but Joseph and Mary didn’t mind.  Joseph looked around them, saw the animals and replied, “Each of these animals is a creation of our God.  We are honored to sleep with them on this joyous night.”  The man left Mary and Joseph alone with the animals and returned to his small home.

There were many animals huddled in the stables.  The night was cold, but the heat from the animals warmed Joseph and Mary.  Sheep, Oxen, donkeys, and horses, all stood breathing quietly, watching as Mary labored to bring our Savior into this world.  One by one, the animals drew closer, anticipating the moment when the Christ child would be born unto us.  Their large eyes were soft; their kind faces seemed to be smiling.  How could they know that this child was to be King of Kings?

As the stars and moon shone brightly overhead, Mary gave birth to the Christ child.  Joseph wrapped the infant in blankets made of fleece, and laid him in a manger.   As Mary knelt in front of her child, the animals huddled around her, and at exactly midnight, each animal, one by one bowed its head and knelt in front of the Christ child. 

Mary and Joseph stared in awe as the creatures knelt and worshiped the King of Kings. The child smiled at them, playfully reaching out to pet their warm fur.  None of the animals moved, none of them uttered a beastly sound.  No bray from the donkey, no moo from the oxen, no whinny from the horse.  Instead, something much more magical happened. 

As the donkey knelt, he looked at the child and said in perfect human words, “Lord, I carried you here from Nazareth to Bethlehem, safe inside your mother’s womb.  I am proud to be your servant.  I will carry my load in all my days to come in Your honor, o Lord. And he who works me and packs loads on my back will see my devotion to please, and will think of You instead of me.  This is my gift to you.”

Then, as the sheep knelt, they spoke together, “Christ Child,  we warmed you in your first minutes of life on Earth, and we offer you our fleece, that you and your people may be warm always.  This way, whoever wears our fleece will think of He who created it, and the Glory will be Yours.  This is our gift to You.”

Next, the kneeling oxen spoke. Their huge and powerful bodies doubled and their large heads bowed down.  “My King, we offer you our strength.  Our backs will bear a burden always, and in love for you, we will work and toil for Your glory.  This way, whoever sees an oxen work, will see not us, but You instead.  This is our gift to you.”

Last, the horse knelt.  His solemn face was full of hope, his powerful body humbled in front of the child.  He leaned toward the infant and said, “Oh my Lord, I will be an instrument of many wars.  I will be the means of much travel.  I will carry your beloved people faithfully, and allow them to ride me to safety, through fields and through battle.  I give you my sure footedness, my loyalty, and my beauty, so that whoever sees me will see not a horse, but You instead.  This is my gift to you.”

As the animals gave themselves freely to Jesus, Mary and Joseph watched, knowing that someday, their son would do the same for all people on earth. 

So you see?  The first to bow down to the Christ child were the most humble of all beings.  They were the animals of the stable, not rich kings from far away.  They gave everything they had to Jesus, things that mattered more to them than any riches like gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

It is said that to this day on Christmas Eve, at exactly midnight, all the animals in their stables look up to the heavens and then bow down, kneeling for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  The animals, one by one, give themselves freely to the King of Kings, offering themselves to Him, just as you and I should do.