A Gospel Tract By: Evangelist Craig Moss

Why A Manger?

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:1-20 KJV)

Most of us already knew that Jesus was laid in a manger at birth. Yet, have you ever stopped to consider it? Have you ever gone past the swaddling clothes to see the true meaning of the manger scene?

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines a manger as:

MANGER, n. [L. mando.]

1. A trough or box in which fodder is laid for cattle, or the place in which horses and cattle are fed.

Have we ever stopped and pondered on the illustration of our Lord and Saviour being laid in a feeding troth at birth?

Consider these following passages of scripture:

And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. (Exodus 16:14-19 KJV)

In this passage we see the children of Israel in the wilderness, after questioning what they were going to eat, are sent bread from the Lord. That bread from Lord was not only enough to sustain them, but it was enough to fill everybody’s need, no matter how great or small.

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. (John 6:31-36 KJV)

(John 6:48-58 KJV)

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (Matthew 26:26 KJV)

Christ in the same way, is the “Bread of Life“; the “Bread from Heaven”. Much like the manna, Christ is enough to sustain all that come unto him, and able to fill everybody’s need, no matter how great or small.

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25 KJV)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:9-17 KJV)

Sinner friend,

The purpose for this gospel tract, is to show you why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was laid in a manger at birth. Jesus’ whole purpose in life was to redeem from the penalty of sin, all who repent and with a true heart come unto God by him. In the Old Testament we see the illustration of Israel being delivered out of the bondage of Egypt. Egypt in Scripture is a picture or type of the World. They were not delivered until they first set their minds to leave Egypt behind, and friend, you too must set it to your mind to leave Egypt behind before you are able to be delivered. The Bible teaches us to REPENT!

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3 KJV)

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30 KJV)

Repentance is not a work, it takes no real effort to do. Repentance is simply a changing of ones mind.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines “Repentance”:

3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2Cor. 7. Matt. 3.

Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.

You see friend, one must change the way they think, before they can or will truly look unto Jesus Christ with a true heart. You must recognize your need of a Saviour, for without a Saviour you will perish. The Lake of Fire will be your eternal destination. It won’t matter how good or bad you are. What then will be the determining factor of your eternal destination?

… he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:58 KJV)

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

(Rev 20:15 KJV)

Friend your name must be written in the “Book of Life”. You might ask, “How can I get my name written in the “Book of Life“?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 KJV)

One cannot have their name written in the “Book of Life” without partaking in that Spiritual Birth. You see, when you were born the first time, it was a fleshly birth. This second birth is a Spiritual birth.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6 KJV)

It is through that Spiritual birth that your name is written in the “Book of Life”, sort of your “Spiritual Birth Record“.

Through partaking in the “Bread of Life“, one’s name is written in the “Book of Life”

What an awesome revelation we are given in the manger!!! One could say, when Jesus was laid in the manger, it’s feeding time!!! Come and eat of the “Bread of Life!”

Friend, Have you ever partaken of that “Bread of Life”? I don’t mean do you have religion. I mean, have you ever TRULY partaken of that “Bread of Life”? Consider these things right now. Remember what the Scripture says:

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV)

Friend, don’t wait. Don’t put God off. If He is dealing with you right now, then “now is the accepted time”. Accept Christ now, right where you are. Take of that “Bread of Life” Don’t “…leave of it till the morning” (Exodus 16:19) You are not promised tomorrow…

My prayer is that all who read this Gospel Tract, will discover the prophetic message of the manger, and partake of that “Bread of Life”!

If you have questions, feel free to contact:

Craig Moss Ministries

386-344-2293