THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SWADDLING CLOTHS
Luke 2:3-12
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. What do you call a dog who works for Santa? Santa Paws!
2. Why does Santa go down the chimney on Christmas Eve? Because it "soots" him!
3. What do you get if you cross Santa with a detective?
Santa Clues!
4. How does Christmas Day end? With the letter 'Y'!
B. TEXT
3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into 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 wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:3-12
C. THESIS
1. Q Did the Angel’s mention of “swaddling clothes” mean anything special to the shepherds? We’re going to find out that it did. (Ask that question of AI and it will answer "yes.")
2. The title of this message is “The Significance of Swaddling Cloths.”
I. WHAT IS “SWADDLING?”
A. HUMAN-BABY SWADDLING
1. Defined: To “swaddle” means to “wrap an infant tightly in cloth, usually a blanket, to restrict their movement.” Swaddling clothes were long strips of cloth used to wrap newborns tightly. This practice is often used to help babies feel secure and calm.
2. This practice was common in the ancient Mediterranean world, including among the Jewish people. Both rich and poor families swaddled their infants, making it a familiar sight for shepherds.
B. SWADDLING OF LAMBS
1. But as strange as it sounds, the term "swaddling clothes" would be significance for these shepherds, for it was common to wrap newborn lambs in similar cloths to protect them, especially those chosen for sacrifice.
2. The Hebrew scholar Alfred Edersheim tells us that the flocks near Bethlehem were not ordinary sheep, but were those being raised for sacrificial uses in the temple.
3. Exodus 12:5 says, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year.” God specified in Malachi 1:8, that sacrificial sheep can’t be blind, lame (have a broken limb), or have any diseased areas.
4. So the sheep around Bethlehem, being destined for sacrifice, were treated with extra care and the shepherds swaddled newborns to assure they didn’t injure themselves by attempting to walk too early.
II. THE MESSIAH IDENTIFIED AS A LAMB
A. O.T. REFS TO MESSIAH AS LAMB/ SHEEP
1. In verse 11, the Angels told the shepherds that this Child shall be “Christ the Lord,” meaning, the Messiah. So it’s none other than the Messiah who is tied up in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger! This reminded the shepherds of the OT references to the Messiah as being like a sacrificial Lamb for the Nation.
2. O.T. REFS TO MESSIAH AS LAMB/ SHEEP:
a. Genesis 22:8. Abraham tells Isaac that "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering," indicating a prophetic reference to God's provision of a sacrificial lamb.
b. Exodus 12:1-51. The Passover lamb is a central figure, symbolizing deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Each family was to sacrifice a spotless lamb, marking their doorposts with its blood to be spared from the final plague.
c. Isaiah 53:7. This verse describes the suffering servant, stating, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter."
3. This idea is confirmed by John the Baptist’s description of Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29, and the Israelites knew who he meant.
4. The shepherds would recognize the Messiah by finding a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a Manger. These hints signified something special about His identity and mission.
5. Who would be a more appropriate audience for the Good News about the birth of the Lamb than an audience of shepherds? But there’s more.
B. SPIRITUALLY AWAKE TO GOD’S MOVING
1. Of all the Jerusalem-Bethlehem area, only 3 or 4 men were “awake” to the presence of God – the rest of the land’s occupants were asleep spiritually!
2. I want to be one of the ones awake; I want to hear from God. There were many religious people in Israel in those days, but few of them were privileged to know God’s working. Don’t be afraid to be the only one serving the Lord – it’s always been only a few, a remnant.
3. The shepherds, as inhabitants of Bethlehem, had to know the famous prophecy about their own town; “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” Micah 5:2, NKJV.
III. A STABLE FOR A NURSERY
A. POEM: THE COMMON WORKMAN
1. He was a common workman with the tools with which he wrought; And he built a common stable, or so it was, he thought.
2. And he fashioned there a manger where the cattle could be fed; Never thinking that the Savior would pillow there His head.
3. He had only built a manger with a manger in the stall; yet it cradled there the Christ-child who is King & Lord of All!
4. So although our task be humble, let us work each day with care; for we may not know God’s purpose or why He placed us there.
5. For the manger that formed the cradle of our Lord & Savior here, Was built by a humble workman in Bethlehem of Judea.
B. GOD’S CHOICE FOR NURSERY
1. Regular stable – used continuously. Smell? (feed lot).
2. Since Inn full, probably the stable was full of animals.
3. Since God has all power, He could have had Christ born in any palace he wanted.
4. But evidently, this stable was God’s best choice! Why?
5. Because that’s where God’s sacrificial Lamb was born!
C. THE ANGEL’S MESSAGE
1. “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day...a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” Luke 2:10-11.
2. A DOUBLE MIRACLE: Isa 7:14, “Behold, the VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE and bear a Son, and shall call His name IMMANUEL” [God with us]. The Son born would be no ordinary child, but “God with us.”
D. WHAT THE SHEPHERDS DID. We would do well to follow the pattern of the Shepherds in celebrating Christ’s birth. They...
1. WENT SEEKING THE SAVIOR (Vs 15). They longed to know Jesus by personal experience.
2. THEY BEHELD THE SAVIOR (Vs 16, 17a). They searched throughout Bethlehem till they beheld Jesus with their own eyes.
3. THEY TOLD OTHERS ABOUT JESUS (17, 18)
4. RETURNED TO THEIR OCCUPATIONS AND KEPT WALKING IN THE WONDER OF CHRIST.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Since Jesus is the Lamb, where should a lamb be born? In a stable! If Jesus had been born in a palace, many common people would not feel welcome to visit Him. But everyone is welcome in a barn!
2. “Never again are we to look at the stars, as we did when we were children, and wonder how far it is to God.” Because of Christmas, God is no longer a spectator, looking on, but taking no part in our lives. God has moved into our neighborhood and became one of us, to die on Calvary’s Cross so we can be saved! God is no longer just in heaven, but He’s “God with us,” Immanuel. [Paraphrased from Joseph McCabe]
B. ALTAR CALL
1. I believe the message God is speaking to us today is that He loves us and wants everyone to come to Him – for forgiveness of sins.
2. IF GOD WILL ACCEPT SHEPHERDS, HE’LL ACCEPT YOU! Like the Shepherds, have we:
a. longed to know Jesus by personal experience?
b. Have we searched until we’ve beheld Jesus? Are we telling others about who we’ve seen?
c. Have we gone back to our regular occupations, but are still walking in the wonder of the Savior?
