The Significance Of The Swaddling Cloths

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.