Wood: a Basis for a Beginning, an End and a New Beginning

Hands placed the baby in a manger.  The manger was likely made of wood and normally was a type of feeding trough for animals.

Hands placed the man on a cross.  The cross was made of wood and was used to crucify those sentenced to death.

A wooden manger represented a very humble environment in which to be placed.  As it was designed as a place where animals would be fed, the baby likely shared living space with animals.

A wooden cross represented a very humiliating way to die.  A crucifixion was normally held in a very public place.  Since two other criminals were crucified with Him, He shared dying space with criminals.

Jesus voluntarily left heaven and dwelt among mankind in human form.  Such form started out in the womb of a woman and then He first actually appeared as a baby.  By becoming human in this way, He allowed Himself to be placed in that manger.

Jesus voluntarily remained among mankind through to adulthood.  At one point, caught up in the legal system, He was put through a sham trial and was declared guilty.  While He was actually innocent, He allowed Himself to be placed on that cross.

If you’ve read this far, you may already know (or maybe should know), how the Apostle Paul framed a “beginning” for Jesus:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:5-7)

The Apostle Paul also framed an “end”:

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  (Phil 2:8)

While many might look back at the crucifixion and the death of Christ and see it as the end, it was actually a “new beginning” since Jesus was raised from the dead.  The Apostle Paul framed it this way:

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Phil 2:9-11)

Wood, while such a very basic organic part of the earth, played a part in Jesus’ willingness to dwell among mankind.  Wood was also a part of His humility and shame but more so, it was part of His victory as He dealt with our sin and conquered death.

Wood, while such a very basic organic part of the earth, can point us so clearly to a Savior and also to a new beginning!