Unexpected Christmas (4)

Jesus

I love learning new things. The bible truly doesn’t waste words and images.

Luke 2:12 ESV

12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

I learned this week that when the Shepherds found a lamb that was spotless and ready for sacrifice they would swaddle the lamb and lay him in a stone like manger so the lamb couldn’t run away. This would prep the lamb for the sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Now fast forward to Jesus in a manger, probably stone like-not wood. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. His sacrifice was proclaimed at his birth.

Jesus was wrapped and prepared for the becoming the ultimate sacrifice for your sins. He is the sacrificial lamb.

Then God led me to Matthew 18:3

Matthew 18:3 ESV

3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Now this is interesting because if you trace the Aramaic word for little child it is

Talitha- Which means little child or a wounded lamb.

Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrificial lamb- we made in his image are like a wounded lamb that needs to be cared for and brought back to a place of life.

Matthew 18:12 ESV

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

Historically, this verse connects to the three above. When a lamb went astray the shepherd would leave the flock to find it, once found he would break the lambs leg. this was for 2 reasons

So the lamb couldn’t run away

So thee shepherd could nurse the lamb back to health and cultivate a relationship with the lamb so it wouldn’t want to run away.

A wounded lamb had to completely rely on the Shepherd. He relied on the Shepherd for food, for travel, and for wound care.

During this time the wounded lamb would grow fond of the shepherd. a Relationship would be built and formed.

We are called to be like the sacrificial lamb. In our wounds God desires us to give up our lives. to receive what he has for us. He deisres to help you heal so that while you are going through the healing process you learn to completely rely on Jesus. To have a relaitonship with Jesus. To know Jesus and be known.

That’s why Jesus went to the cross. That’s why Jesus was born and that’s why we baptize today. We baptize to celebrate our new relationship with Jesus. .To declare that we love and accept him because he loved and accepted us.