Levitical shepherds who raised/kept the sheep used for sacrifices
They wrapped their new born male lambs in the strips of cloth to protect from stains or blemishes forming on the lamb. Perhaps these strips were from the priestly robes, to remind the shepherds he is a priest at his birth taking on himself our sins and filth.
that had been the priests robes, but got so bloodied they could no longer be used in the Temple.
Each family kept a sheep which was at least 1 year old having slept outside 365 days.
Kept for one week, fed, named, loved, slept with the family
The Priest in the Temple would ask do you love your sheep? Did you name your Sheep?
If not convinced he sent them back.
The angels said
Luke 2:12 (NLT) — 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Getting to the manger
A baby wrapped in swaddling cloths
The former priestly robes, bloodied beyond cleaning now used to wrap new born sheep in
Perhaps even the sterile room used to birth these special lambs.
You Can’t Go to Bethlehem
You are not Levitical shepherds
The manger and the first family are long gone, we will never see anything just like that it again.
BUT there is a second advent, a second coming, which can get to see.
You Can Live Ready for the Second Coming
Born a king, the king of kings
Kings are born, not made, installed or appointed, THEY ARE BORN
Isaiah 9:6–7 (NIV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
He came as a baby, we missed it.
It is coming again as a king.
We can be there
Revelation 17:14 NIV
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
