More Christmas Thoughts

  Jesus, the Son of God, squeezed through that tight, virginal, birth canal and there was no real glory to it.  He came into the world like all mankind.  There were no cutting corners because He was the Son of God.  It was a first labor and delivery for a young tired girl.  There was the typical mess that comes with birth, but He also plopped down, right into a used stable.  Now, I don't know about you but, I think that might have been a real smelly mess.  Jesus came, every bit, the Son of Man.

  Mary wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, the "sign" that would be found by the shepherds, according to the angels who spoke to them.  Why was this such a sign?

  In some of my past readings, I learned, Bethlehem was an area where sheep were raised for purchase for the sacrificial offerings needed at the temple in Jerusalem.   When the ewes gave birth, the shepherds would examine the lambs closely for any blemishes or defects.  If a lamb was perfect, the shepherd would wrap it in swaddling cloths and lay it in a manger.  This was done so it could not hurt itself and also protected The newborn lamb from being stepped on or hurt by others.  All the lambs needed for sacrifice must be prefect.

  Maybe, when the shepherds went searching for the baby Jesus, they found Him in a feeding trough along with swaddled lambs.  Can you imagine them suddenly finding the right stable, and seeing,
lamb, lamb, lamb, baby boy, lamb, lamb?

  I don't think they knew they were seeing the perfect Lamb of God.

  But we do.

  Merry Christmas.