Hindu and other eastern religions regard him as a philosopher, (a thinker) Christianity teaches that he is the Son of God. His name is just Jesus. Or Jesus of Nazareth. On the 25th of this month, December, we shall be celebrating his birth. While we celebrate his birth, I would like us to reflect on his birth in the manger, why God's Son was born in the manger (mo bojelo jwa Dipitse). This is a very serious question but many theologians avoid asking it let alone try to answer it. But always talk about the cross. And the cross has become the symbol of the Christian religion. Theologians have even developed the theology of the cross.
Is it not the time to have a theology of the manger? Questions have been asked why God allowed his Son to die on the cross, a shameful death. My question is why God allowed his son to be born in a manger? The Bible tells us that, there was a census in Juda during the time of Jesus' birth. And everybody was supposed to be counted at his home-town. This means Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to be counted. They arrived in the evening and hotels and inns were all full.
