Sermon: The Ox and the Ass — December 18, 2024

The Ox and the Ass
Advent 3 Midweek
December 18, 2024

This is the word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in his name. AMEN.

There is no ass or ox in the biblical stories about the birth of Jesus. But, besides the Christ-Child himself, the ass and the ox are the most ancient and stable elements in the picture of the Nativity. In fact, the earliest example of a nativity from the fourth century depicts only the swaddled Christ in a manger flanked by the ox at his head and the ass at his feet.

However, we do find this detail in the prophecy of Isaiah [1:3]: The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel has not known me, and my people have not understood.

There are also extra-biblical references to this, such as in the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, which says: Therefore, the animals, the ox and the ass, with him in their midst incessantly adored him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by Habakkuk the prophet, saying, 'Between two animals you are made manifest."

So what is the importance of the ox and the ass to Jesus' birth? Why are these animals paired together with the Christ-Child? What does it matter to us if there's an ass at Jesus' feet and an ox at Jesus' head? Well, traditionally, the ox is seen as Israel, and the ass is seen as the Gentiles. This comes from a critical distinction between the two animals. The ox is a "clean" animal, and the ass is an "unclean" animal according to dietary proscriptions in the Old Testament. This is literally the most crucial proscription in the Bible because the whole Gospel is hiding right under its surface. According to Moses, the firstborn of the ass was to be redeemed with a male lamb (Exodus 12:3), and if not redeemed, it was to be killed.

This is excellent news for you, then, because the mixing of the clean and the unclean is related very closely, very tightly, to the mixing of Jews and Gentiles. The clearest example of this is in the apostle Peter's vision in the Book of Acts of the clean and unclean meats placed together, which signify the entry of Gentiles like you (and millions of others) into the faithful Israel, the body of Christ, which is the body of the Church.

In fact, there is a Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 22:10), which I have never seen quoted concerning the Nativity, but which seems to hold one of the keys to the ass and the ox: Thou shall not plow with an ox and an ass yoked together.

What's proscribed here is that the yoking of the clean and unclean, the bringing together the "inside" and "outside," can only be accomplished without sin by the Messiah, the incarnation of God's Word. Even the apostle Paul follows this tradition, using the same imagery to warn Christians not to be "yoked" with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

This brings out yet another meaning related to the incarnation and its relation to the universality of the Church. The ass is a beast of burden, a "mindless" strength which was created to "carry." In this respect, the ass is a symbol of flesh and blood, of physical wants and cravings.

We should not be surprised then that the symbol of the unclean animal, of those who are thought to exist" outside" of God's salvation promises, is portrayed as our fallen bodily existence and lusts. The "outer" part, the fleshy things, the five senses, and the Gentiles are related to the garments of skin in Genesis 3, and this outside-ness protects us from being exposed to the things from the "inside" that can hurt and harm us. But they also carry what is precious, like the bodies of Adam and Eve, like the body of the ark, like the body of the Church.

It follows naturally then that stories such as the talking ass of Balaam are seen as pointing forward to the incarnation of God's Son or that it is so essential for Christ to be found riding an ass (the ass and colt of Zechariah's prophesy are seen as representing the Gentiles). So, it's no small thing that Jesus rides an ass because without him sitting atop an unclean animal, without him riding it to the cross, outsiders like you and me would have never been allowed "inside," never been brought to the center of everything, into an ever-lasting relationship with God that is based on His forgiveness and love.

These Old Testament images, like the joining of the ass and the ox in the depiction of the Nativity, are symbolic of the joining of extremes, the union of the spiritual and physical, the clean and unclean, the inside and outside, and ultimately, the uncreated and created in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, when you consider the nativity, especially the Christ-Child bookended by the ox and ass at his head and feet, you are reminded of the preaching of Habbakuk (which sounds better if we hear it in the old King James' way of putting it): O Lord, I have heard Thy report, and was afraid: I considered Thy works, and was amazed: in the midst of two living beings Thou shalt be known; when the years draw nigh, Thou shalt be acknowledged; when the time is come, Thou shalt be manifested; when my soul is troubled, in wrath Thou wilt remember mercy. (chapter 3, 1-2)

The ox and the ass, with the Christ-Child, depict a wonderful picture to you, that the faith of the Church can look upon this newborn in a manger and proclaim to ALL men that in Him, God has made known His salvation to Jews and Gentiles, which is Himself, his body and blood, his Spirit delivered as a gift for the world, for the whole cosmos, for you to receive because God has remembered his promise to shower you with His grace and mercy today and always, world without end.

This is the word of the Lord that came to me, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. AMEN.