We come now to Week 4 and the theme of this Week is love. I noticed that in our Church calendar that the fourth week of advent and Christmas Day happens at the same time. This is perfect as John the Apostle wrote:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
This is the reason why God came into the world through the incarnation. Tradition has it that there were animals where Mary had the baby. Whether or not there were animals we do know, but we do know that our Lord and Saviour slept in a manger that night in which he was born.
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7
The word manger comes from
“A manger or trough is a rack for fodder, or a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals. The word comes from the Old French mangier (meaning “to eat”), from Latin mandere (meaning “to chew”).”(Taken from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manger)
Apart from the manger I am reflecting on where, what location inside Bethlem our Lord Jesus was born. One blogger wrote in his page heading:
“Where Was Jesus Born: A Barn, Cave, or House?”
(From: “youthpastortheologian.com/blog/where-was-jesus-born-a-barn-cave-or-house”)
It wasn’t very luxurious where our Lord was born, and I like to think that there were animals. The reason being that our Lord as the Second Person of the Trinity was present and active in the creation of the world including all the animals.
The other interesting fact is that our Lord was wrapped twice:
- Swaddling cloths at his birth
- Linen when he was buried.
So, our Lord had cloths wrapped around him twice and we see the Scriptural evidence below:
- And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
- So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:40
We do know that there is a lot of imagery around shepherds, mangers and swaddling cloths. We also know that our Lord was wrapped in cloths twice once at his birth and once at his death. We also know that our Lord was called the ‘Lamb of God’:
“Again, the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”” John 1:35-36
It is interesting that lambs in the second Temple era in Jerusalem usually had their feet bound before they were sacrificed. This is clearly an image for the reason of why our Lord came into the world. Even the name of Jesus from the Hebrew means the Lord is Salvation (yeshuah).
From my perspective Jesus was the true lover of our souls. That he came from heaven knowing full well that at the age of 33 he would be sacrificed for our sins. Paul writes something interesting about the advent (coming) of Jesus into the world. I quote a fuller section here from Philipians 2
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “Philippians 2:1-11
Then I quote the verses that touch on our Christmas story:
“Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.” Philippians 2:5-9
In the text above a bond servant was a willing party in being in this context God’s slave.
Reflection
The story of Christmas is very deep if only we can find the clues. We have seen from the clues that even in the swaddling cloths Jesus wore at his birth was a sign of his sacrifice for our salvation and eternal life because when Christ also died, he was wrapped in linen. Lambs had their legs wrapped in linen before being sacrificed (killed). So, our Lord was wrapped in linen at his death. What can we take away from this?
Anyone can give presents away and they do at this festive season. Jesus the ultimate sacrifice was the ultimate gift with pure motives for our salvation so that we can be brought into the presence of God. The Question is how do our motives, attitudes and intentions compare to God’s?
Happy Advent and Christmas at this time as we remember the birth of our Saviour!
Addendum
I also forgot to mention that as well as the death of Christ, king Solomon was also mentioned in the Apocrypha as being wrapped as a baby Wis 7:4-5
Some scholars therefore have looked for a kingship meaning too. This is another line of thought. Below I quote the Apocrypha:
1 myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the offspring of him that was first made of the earth,
2 And in my mother’s womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.
3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.
4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares.
5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth.
6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
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