Word-Filled Wednesday ~#131~ Born to Die

"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 of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born you; He is Christ the LORD. This will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'" ~Luke 2:8-12 [emphasis mine]

CHRISTmas-time. 

What a wonderful time of year. For most of us, in the midst of celebrating the TRUE, miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we also enjoy a time of year that ushers in wonderful winter blessings, traditions and festivities . . . 

If you can maneuver well enough around all the commercialism, it is a time to enjoy the beauty of newly fallen snow, family time, seasonal foods and . . . well . . . joy, peace and good will toward men . . . right?

But does the real meaning of CHRISTmas enter into your thoughts and your celebration longer than it takes to attend a CHRISTmas Eve church service?

The things we do during the CHRISTmas season hold so much significance, and yet we take them for granted ~ the lights with which we adorn our homes, our CHRISTmas trees and even our city streets are testament that Jesus is The Light of the World (John 8:12), many of us have either an angel or a star on the top of our CHRISTmas trees to remember the angel who brought the good news of Jesus' birth to the shepherds (above) or the star that led the Magi on their 2 year journey to see Jesus, the Child King (Matt. 2:1-12); we give gifts to each other just as the Magi gave gifts to Jesus, we hang round evergreen wreaths the remind us that Jesus is eternal and we have eternal life ONLY through Him (John 14:6).

So much prophecy, history . . . it all ties in to the surroundings of Jesus' miraculous birth. 

But there is also great significance in the very birth scene of Jesus. Jesus is our Spotless Lamb of God, the only One Who takes away our sin. At the time that He was born, the Jews were still sacrificing at the Temple. The very shepherds that the heralding angel appeared to and graced with the good news of Jesus' birth were shepherds who were raising sheep especially for sin sacrifice at the Temple. These sheep were special ~ they were to be guarded and protected at all cost, they were to remain spotless and unhurt, unblemished for sacrifice.

When Jesus was born, Mary wrapped Him in swaddling cloths. These long strips of clean cloth served two purposes: 1) these cloths were wrapped tightly around the sweet newborn babies so that they would still feel as snuggled and secure outside the womb and they did inside. (a practice that is regaining popularity, today) 2) infant mortality was, sadly, very high is those days. The baby was likely to be stillborn or die shortly after birth, and these same swaddling cloths were used to wrap and bury the precious newborn.

Now . . . here's something I find profoundly interesting . . . 

When the shepherds who raised the sacrificial lambs saw one that was especially "perfect," he would wrap it up in the same type of swaddling cloths that new mothers wrapped their dear newborns in. These lambs were carried around strapped to the shepherds so that they remained spotless and blemish-free. These lambs were of great worth.

So much prophecy and meaning that could only be orchestrated by a loving God for His One and only Son . . . it all ties in to the surroundings of Jesus' miraculous birth. Jesus, as our perfect sacrificial Lamb, was wrapped in swaddling cloths that were prepared for Him whether He lived or died. 

And He was born to die.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><