The power and majesty of God’s angels must be something to see because they always begin their message with, “Do not be afraid…” In this encounter the message is:
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Luke 2: 11-12
The fact that Jesus has been born in a stable and is lying in a manger becomes a “sign” to the shepherds. In effect, the angel’s message is that the verification of what we have told you about the Messiah will be the unusual sight of a baby in among the sheep in the barn.
Let’s think about that for a minute. It is my understanding that the flocks around Bethlehem were kept for use by the priests as sacrifices in the temple. So then, Jesus, who was born to die for our sins, was born among the sheep who also died for sin.
Q: Is there any significance in the sign of the Messiah being a baby in a manger?
The only thing I can think of is that it is a detail that scripture included (one of many) that speaks to its historical veracity.
Clay or wooden mangers were used in both the 4 room Israelite house and the single level house. These would have been the type of dwellings Joseph & Mary’s relatives would have had in Bethlehem.