Sunday, December 16, 2018

Swaddling Clothes

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:4–7

Though Jesus Christ was divine, His birth was like that of any other baby. His mother endured labor pains, no doubt complicated by the fact that, because the city of Bethlehem was crowded by all those who had come to register in their ancestors’ hometown, there was not even a place indoors where Mary could give birth. They used a manger for the baby’s bed, but before Jesus was placed in it, Mary wrapped him in swaddling clothes.

In those days, people would take strips of cloth and wind them around a new baby. This was similar to the practice that was followed when someone died. Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus took possession of the body of Jesus after His death on the cross and prepared it for burial, using long strips of cloth and putting in spices to delay the decay of the body. “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury” (John 19:40).

From the very moment of His birth, Jesus was destined for the cross. Even His first baby clothes were symbolic of His purpose. Every day of His ministry was lived with the full knowledge of what waited. And even though He knew the cost that was coming, Jesus loved us enough to fulfill His mission.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

From His arrival on earth, Jesus was demonstrating God’s indescribable love for us.