Christmas

Swaddling Cloths

/ Virginia / Leave a comment

“This shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12 KJV)

As I’ve grown in my Christian faith, it has become obvious that every detail in the Bible has significant meaning. Reading the Christmas story this season, the words swaddling cloths jumped out at me. Why did Luke add this detail? Why was it so important that we know that the baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths before He was laid in a manger? I felt compelled to research various Bible translations, linguistics, and traditions to see if scholars might know.

What I found were four very different opinions. The first was simply that Mary was an attentive mother, swaddling her baby, much like we do our babies today. The second opinion hearkened back to Jewish tradition when a betrothed maiden would embroider a cloth with designs from her husband’s lineage (perhaps the Lion of Judah for Joseph’s lineage because he was of the House of David). That cloth would then be wrapped around their hands during their marriage ceremony, signifying their union. It would then be wrapped around their babies to strengthen the bond and covenant of their marriage.

The third opinion was that often when people of that time traveled, they would wrap lengths of fabric around their waist so that in case of death, it would be easier to transport the body if it were wrapped in lengths of cloth. If the baby Jesus were wrapped in these cloths, it would foreshadow His being wrapped in linen burial cloths after His death at Calvary and prior to His resurrection.

The fourth option was the most intriguing to me. It weaves history, Jewish tradition, and stories found in the Old Testament with Christ’s birth. In Genesis 35:21, we read that Rachel died after giving birth to her son Benjamin and was buried at Migdal Eder. In Micah 5:2, we read the prophecy that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem Ephrata, “the place where Rachel died.”

By the time Jesus was born, Migdal Eder had become the Tower of the Flock where shepherds would bring their best lambs to be inspected by the Levitical priests. The most perfect and unblemished lambs would then be sacrificed during the Passover ceremony. The ceremony dated back to the time of Moses and Israelite captivity in Egypt when God told the Israelites to paint lamb’s blood over the door frame so that He would pass over that house and not allow “the destroyer” to enter. Any home without lamb’s blood would lose their firstborn to death. The Passover lamb ceremony was a foreshadowing of Jesus, the perfect sacrificial lamb who would allow those who believe in Him to escape from death into life eternal.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds would wrap their best lambs in swaddling cloths to keep them from becoming blemished and take them to Migdal Eder to be inspected by the Levitical priests. When the angel appeared to the shepherds the night Christ was born, he told them that “this will be a sign unto you.” The commentary concludes that the shepherds would have known exactly where to find the newborn King… wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger in Migdal Eder. (See Fotet.org)

Each time I read the Christmas story in Luke 2, I am reminded how many old testament prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus at His birth. Does His being wrapped in swaddling cloths also point to Jesus being “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29)?

Perhaps it matters not… what does matter is that Jesus was born, lived, and died to take away our sins. His is a free gift offered to each of us if only we believe (Romans 10:9). I pray that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today. May God’s richest blessings be upon you and yours this Holy Christmas.

***

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 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.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (Luke 2:8-18)

Why Did Jesus Come?

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The Christmas story is a true love story. The Bible tells us that God sent Jesus into the world because of His love for us. In John 3:16, we read, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Because of Jesus, we need not doubt God’s love for us. 

God sent Jesus as a baby so that He could experience every aspect of being human.    Jesus knew what it was like to be a child, to experience adolescence, and to struggle with temptation. He knew what it meant to be ridiculed, mocked, and betrayed. He understood sorrow and death. He felt the pain and agony of His crucifixion. Because of His earthly experiences, Jesus is our advocate in Heaven, pleading our case to reconcile us to God the Father. The Bible tells us, “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

Finally, Jesus came to earth to offer each of us salvation. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” 

Through His crucifixion and death, Jesus paid the sin debt each of us owes so that we might have eternal life with Him in heaven.

This gift of love and salvation that Jesus offers is ours, but it is not forced upon us. We must choose to open and accept His beautiful gift.  In Romans 10:9 we are assured, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

I pray this Christmas that you choose Jesus to be your loving Lord and Savior.  Merry Christmas and may God’s riches blessings be with you and yours. 

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
    and His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

For further reading, visit https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/books/why-did-jesus-christ-come-as-a-baby-1458843.html

The Servant King

/ Virginia / Leave a comment

Tomorrow we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Have you ever wondered why Jesus was born in a humble stable, surrounded by domestic animals? Why shepherds, considered among the lowest members of society, were the first to hear about the Christ child’s birth? Why Jesus grew up and lived in poverty? The truth is, that Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, did not come to conquer but to serve during His first coming. He came to serve and to save.

Everything surrounding the birth of Jesus pointed to Him being a Servant King. While Jesus could have come as a conquering King surrounded by an army of angels, when He left Heaven to be with us on earth, the Bible tells us that Jesus “emptied Himself” of all His glory because of love. Jesus came to die in our place on the cross, saving us from our sins, and reconciling us to God the Father. In Mark 10:45, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus spent His life and ministry serving others and giving hope to the hopeless. He healed the sick, cast out demons, made the lame walk, and the blind see. He fed thousands. He protected children. He raised the dead. And at the Last Supper, before He was captured and led off to be crucified, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet — even the feet of Judas who Jesus knew would soon betray Him (John 13:1–17). And when He completed washing their feet, Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Jesus emptied Himself to serve others and to be obedient to the will of God. He calls each of us to do the same. No matter what our circumstances, as followers of Christ, we are to emulate Him, serving one another in humility and love. When Jesus returns at His Second Coming, He will come as the Lion of Judah to claim victory over evil. Until that day, He calls each of us to serve each other and the least, the last, and the lost. We are to bring hope to the hopeless and offer testimony to His Good News.

I pray that God richly blesses you and yours this Christmas and that you find joy in 2023 by being the hands and feet of our glorious Servant King.

—

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
    He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8)