Wrapped in Cloth, Wrapped in Grace
We are full on into the rush of Christmas. Christmas trees are decorated and on display in every city. Homes are filled with holiday decorations. The retail outlets are decorated and the sounds of Christmas music are everywhere.
If I did a survey of my readers, I suspect that many of you have matching Christmas pajamas. Don’t worry, I am not going to tell anyone if you do! And of course, we can’t forget the Christmas sweaters, sweatshirts, and socks that are so popular. I suspect when you attend a Christmas Eve service this year, someone in the family will suggest appropriate Christmas attire. We adorn most any and everything during the Christmas season.
On the night Jesus was born, no one in the primary story wore festive clothing. Luke tells us that when Mary gave birth, she “wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid the baby in a manger.” Just a few verses later, we learn that an angel of the Lord spoke to shepherds who were tending their sheep and told them of “good news of great joy.”
“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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’”
Strips of cloths were used to swaddle the Christ child. Smelly shepherds came to a stable to see the Savior of the world. There were no signs of royalty in or around the manger on Christmas morning. The humility of Jesus and the earthly poverty of Jesus were visible not only at his birth but also at his death, where once again the body of Jesus was wrapped with strips of cloths and his body placed in a borrowed tomb.
There is nothing wrong with holiday lights on display or in wearing festive clothing as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But all the trappings during the advent season can easily become both the distraction and sadly even the focus of the season. This is why taking time each day during advent to read scripture and to remember who we are waiting for is so critical.
Reading the prophecies of the coming Messiah along with reading the birth narratives of the gospels draw us to the central message of Christmas: the birth of Christ changes everything for us, for the world, and for all time. In him we have access to our Heavenly Father, forgiveness of our sins, and move from death to life as we surrender our lives to Christ through faith and receive his mercy and grace.
Before Jesus went to the cross, John describes the upper room scene where Jesus took off his outer garments and stooped down to wash his disciples’ feet. He then told his followers that as disciples we are called to serve others, just as he modeled for us.
Go ahead and put on your Christmas wardrobe, but make sure that both through the advent season and as a pattern of life, we learn to practice our faith through acts of service to others. There is no special wardrobe needed to share the love of Christ with others.
Father, thank you for Jesus. Forgive us when we get so busy with the trappings of Christmas that we forget Jesus came to serve and to save us and all who are lost. Guide us today to the people and places where we can make your love and life known. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Luke 2:7-12, 24:12; John 13:3-17, 19:40; Matthew 27:59-61 ESV
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