Have you ever wondered about "swaddling clothes"?
Everyone knows that
Jesus was born in a manger, and the 2nd chapter of the gospel of Luke
says that he was wrapped in "swaddling clothes" and laid in a manger. In
fact, even hospitals today use a cloth that they call a "swaddling"
cloth. Unfortunately, it's a misnomer that will soon be over 2,000 years
old, because "swaddling clothes" have nothing to do with a child being
born!
In the Middle East, people traveling long distances were often met with
many hardships and trials on their journeys. In the event of a death in
travel, the body could not continue to be transported for many days. For
that reason, travelers wrapped a thin, gauzelike cloth around their
waist many times. If someone died on the journey, the others would use
this cloth, referred to as "swaddling clothes" to wrap the corpse in
before burying them.
When Jesus was born, there was no room in the Inn, and so Mary and
Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus' birth. With no other cloth to
use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's "swaddling clothes" - the cloth
normally reserved for a person's death.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords came into this world in a lowly
manger and was wrapped with burial clothes - in truth, He was born to
die. To die for the sins of all mankind.
When you celebrate Christ's birth this Christmas season, keep in mind
that even in birth, He was preparing for death - his ultimate reason for
coming to earth....
To save us from our sins.