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by Erik Raymond
"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2.7)
This is a familiar passage to be read and considered during the Advent season. It is embedded with so much rich theological beauty and truth for the Christian.
Here we have the Son of God become the son of a virgin. The one who swaddled the stars with darkness (Job 38.9) is now swaddled in cloth as a baby. This is such mind bending, heart melting truth! Christ, the Lord God, becomes a man, and dwells among us (John 1.14).
Furthermore, it is this same Jesus who was swaddled in the garments of humility who will soon swaddle his own children in the merit of his righteousness. This Jesus will, by his perfect obedience, earn the everlasting righteousness that will be credited to a sinner like me.
I cannot stare at the scene of the manger without seeing the looming shadow of Calvary descending upon it. This Jesus was born to die (Matt. 1.21). I see the baby here, swaddled in rags. But in due time he will be swaddled in the rags of my demerit, my sin (Is. 64.6; 1 Pet. 2.24; 2 Cor. 5.21). This he did that I might be clothed in his righteousness (Rom. 4.4-5; 5.1; 2 Cor. 5.21).
This is one reason I love the Christmas season. It forces me to be reminded again of the depth of Christ’s condescension for a rebel like me. The depth is infinite because my sin is infinite. And his righteousness is infinite because his value is infinite. Therefore, praise is befitting for those who have received such grace (Ps. 147.1)
See Also:
Jesus - The
Gift That Keeps On Giving
The story of Jesus' birth is interesting because it shows us how to
receive all the promises of God. I know people like to put
everything on God, but you have a part to play in receiving the
promises of God. There's a spiritual exchange that has to take
place.
The Lost Glory
of Christmas Caroling
If Christmas caroling once had
inexplicable experience of the coming down of Heaven on earth, it
has now been apparently reversed to the ascension of hell on earth
because it is a money-collecting techniques used by irreligious and
agnostic population of the entire global mass that carol under the
influence of liquor and other hard drugs.
True Meaning of
Christmas
Have you ever asked children what Christmas means to them?
Christmas Then and
Today
Christmas is about love that is, giving and giving sacrificially. It
is the blessed season that engages the world in a covenant of love.
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