A Manger and A Lamb
The Stories of Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1,333 viewsThe stories of Christmas have been passed down from generation to generation. Beloved as they are, if we are not careful we can loose some important sybolism through the generations. Was Jesus born in a manger in a stable because there was no room for them in the inn or was there something more to this story of Christmas.
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Introduction
The effect of time and traditions on a story.
Picture of a modern nativity scene.
The Birth of Jesus has been so commercialized that much of the meaning of his birth and the significants of his birth has been lost.
Let’s take a closer look at Luke chapter 2 and see if we can’t regain a proper understanding of what happened on that Holy night of our dear Savior’s birth.
God Prepared a Place
God Prepared a Place
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Luke
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:6-7
Just because there is no room in the inn doesn’t mean God has forsaken you.
The place was Migdal Eder or The Tower of the Flock.
The place was Migdal Eder or The Tower of the Flock.
Due to all the temple sacrifices, the area around the Temple in Jerusalem all the way the Migdal Eder was deemed holy to the Lord.
All the cattle and flocks of that area were set apart for the sacrifices of the temple.
The shepherds were not just hired hands but priestly shepherds of the temple that understood the requirements need of the temple.
First born male.
Without blemish or spot.
The Tower of the Flock was not a stable at all. It has served as a military watchtower in the time of David watching over the city of Bethlehem.
The lower level of the tower served as a birthing chamber for the ewe lambs.
The area would have been cleaned and prepared for the births to make sure they didn’t have spot or blemish for sacrifice.
The first mention of Migdal Eder is the birth of the last son of Israel by Rachel in
16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.”
Gen 35
18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
Gen
Rachel called him Ben-oni = Son of Sorrows
His father, Jacob, called him Benjamin = The Son of my right hand.
She died right outside of Bethlehem.
20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
Gen
Due to all the temple sacrifices, the area around the Temple in Jerusalem all the way the Migdal Eder was deemed holy to the Lord.
The Manger
The Manger
All the cattle and flocks of that area were set apart for the sacrifices of the temple.
The lower level of The Tower of the Flock served as a birthing chamber for the ewe lambs.
The shepherds were not just hired hands but priestly shepherds of the temple that understood the requirements need of the temple.
The area would have been cleaned and prepared for the births to make sure they didn’t have spot or blemish for sacrifice.
First born male.
Without blemish or spot.
The Manger
The Manger
When a ewe lamb was born the were carefully wrapped in swaddling cloths preventing them from flaying around and falling being excited from the birth.
Picture of a limestone manger
The manger wasn’t a troth filled with hey, but a piece of limestone with a hewed out wedge that would keep the lamb from moving around.
God Prepared a People
God Prepared a People
The Shepherds watching over the flock by night.
The Shepherds watching over the flock by night.
Shepherds have always been a picture of the Pastors or messengers guiding God’s people.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Picture of a limestone manger
The shepherds were not just hired hands but priestly shepherds of the temple that understood the requirements need of the temple.
First born male.
Without blemish or spot.
9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:9
These temple shepherds would be educated in the Tora, our Old Testament, and would have know of the prophecy of the coming Messiah in
8 And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
Not only was the prophecy given but a sign as well.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Luke 2:12
This was a sign that these shepherds would fully understand.
It wasn’t a manger but the manger in the tower of the flock.
Thy did need directions of where to find Jesus. They knew exactly where he was. He was swaddled as a lamb lying in their manger.
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
Luke 2:15
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
Luke 2:
God still speaks to his shepherds to guide the sheep.
God Prepared a Plan
God Prepared a Plan
Jesus was not a spotless lamb but the Lamb of God for God has provided himself a Lamb.
The first born only begotten Son of God.
Without spot or blemish, one who knew no sin.
A pure sacrifice for all Mankind.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus is both:
Ben-oni: The Man of Sorrows
Benjamin = The Son of God’s right hand.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:1
Is 53:
Conclusion
The last thing I want you to see out of is verse 19
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
What do you see when you look at a nativity scene?
What do you see when you look at a nativity scene?
Do you seen the traditions of Jesus being poor with no room in the inn.
Or do you see the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
What do you do when you hear the good news that a savior has come to the world?
What do you do when you hear the good news that a savior has come to the world?
Do you seek him out until you find him.
Or just continue on with business as usual.
Jesus has come. The ultimate sacrifice for sin has been slain.
Christ has risen and redemption is now offered to you.