Luke 2: 10-12 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Over the past month, as I hear the traditional Christmas music played this time of year and observed the hustle and bustle of people, I heard the story of Christ’s birth. It seemed the words swaddling cloths popped out continually. I wondered what the significance of the swaddling cloths were since the angel seemed to indicate the shepherds would know which baby was Christ because He would be wrapped in swaddling cloths, as if He wouldn’t be the only one in the manger.
I did some research on swaddling cloths which led to some interesting facts of the situation.
The first thing I learned was the place of Christ’s birth was a cave. Now I had seen it portrayed as a cave several times, but I always interpreted it as a barn or stable because it was associated with the Inn that had no room. Plus, in our culture, a stable is in a barn typically. I learned this was a special cave, one used specifically for birthing lambs that would be used for the temple sacrifices.
As I read over the account in the Bible, I read the passages about the angel announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds. Shepherding was typically seen as the lowliest profession. Remember the account of King David’s anointing by Samuel to be the next king of Israel? Remember how his father Jesse’s answered Samuel’s request concerning any other sons after he had seen all the ones available? Jesse said, “Yes, I have one other son, but he is out in the fields tending the sheep.” (paraphrased). The tone of the sentence was more condescending and demeaning than one of great pride.
I learned the shepherds in the field that night were no ordinary shepherds, but they were Levitical shepherds. These shepherds were the ones who tended the sheep raised specifically for the sacrifices under the Law of the Old Testament. The Levitical shepherds would take the sheep to specific caves used for birthing the sacrificial lambs. The caves were specially cared for to keep them clean and prepared for the birthing process. The cave provided protection from the natural predators ready to snatch the newborns away.
Sacrificial lambs had to be without spot or blemish, so the shepherds would swaddle or wrap the newborns in cloths so they wouldn’t injure themselves from kicking and thrashing about as newborn lambs have a tendency to do. The cloths were typically ceremonially blessed for the service of God.
Swaddling is a practice typically done on newborn babies to help them transition from the tight confirms of a woman’s womb to the outside world. You’d recognize it by the baby being wrapped tightly in a blanket. The blanket keeps the baby warm and the snugness helps relax them. I knew about the practice, but I didn’t realize the wrapping of a baby in the blanket was called swaddling.
Additionally, swaddling cloths were used for burial back in the time of Christ. Devote Jews at that time would carry swaddling cloths with them as they traveled between towns. Their safety as they traveled was suspect and, according to the Law, if killed, they were to be buried within 24 hours. The swaddling cloths – or burial cloths – were a matter of convenience so those burying the person didn’t have to locate some. Theologians suggest the swaddling of Christ when He was born was a prophetic sign of his forthcoming burial.
Certain caves used for birthing sacrificial lambs were even more holy than others because it was in these caves the Passover Lambs were born. The Passover lambs were even more special than the sacrificial lambs because they were used during the Passover – a particularly holy time for the Old Testament Jews. Passover usually occurs around the time we Christians celebrate Easter or the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. Such was the cave Christ was born in. The swaddling cloths were even more blessed than the regular caves’ cloths.
Do you see the significance and attention to detail here? God, sending His Paschal Lamb into the world, had His Son born in a Passover Lamb cave, wrapped in the holy garments set aside for a sacrificial lamb and announced to the Levitical shepherds who would fully understand the significance of the birth. He announced His Son as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1: 29).
The Jews had daily sacrifices, but the Passover Lamb and Passover Sacrifice were of unique significance. It started in the time when Israel was enslaved by the Egyptians. Passover, as it became known, was the final plague on Egypt when Moses demanded of Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave their captivity. Those who were safely in their house where the Passover Lamb was sacrificed and whose door lentils were properly marked with the blood of the lamb (in the form of a cross, mind you) were spared the death of their first-born son as the death angel passed over Egypt. Those whose door lentils were not marked lost their first-born sons. The Passover Lamb sacrifice was necessary to escape the judgment and their sins covered by the blood. Jesus Christ was the final acceptable sacrifice for our sins. All the wrath and judgment we deserved because of our sinful nature was borne by Christ and in return, we received salvation, forgiveness, redemption and more.
God’s attention to such details of His Son’s birth tells me He is very detailed-oriented. He knows exactly what needs to be done for me. The detailed plan for His Son’s birth supports the verse where God proclaims His love over me to the point of knowing the number of hairs on my head. He knows me. He even knows my name. He knows what I need. He meets my every need. He is my salvation from my sins. He sent His Son to take my place and remove the judgment for my sins.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas time, it is more than just the celebration of gift-giving, good wishes and large meals. It is the very celebration of the Life that gives us life. Merry Christmas to all. God’s Son was given to us.
#offeringthoughts
Copyright © 2017, David A. Zimmer, All Rights Reserved.