Swaddled
By Vernette Kureck
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 2:7 (NIV)
How to care for a newborn. It is an age-old
dilemma with massive books written on how to achieve the most contented baby.
Do you lay them on their back or their stomach? How often should they be fed? Cloth
diapers or disposable? Should they self-soothe or be rocked to sleep? Do you
put them in a sleep sack or wrap them snuggly in a blanket? How about swaddling?
The greatest gift ever given to
mankind was wrapped in cloths to keep him secure and warm, and placed in a
manger. The eternal Son of God was born of a virgin and quietly entered the
world in a small Judean town. Did you know swaddling was used to restrain
movement? Think about it: The Creator of the universe confined in human flesh
and cloths.
Not much is shared in Scripture
regarding Jesus’ childhood. According to the Gospel of Luke, He grew strong and
was filled with wisdom. [1] When
He was 12 years old, his family went to the temple in Jerusalem for the Feast
of the Passover. After He was missing for three days, His parents found Him in
the synagogue where He stated He must be in His Father’s house. Jesus restrained
Himself though, and submissively left with His parents. [2]
Before He begins His ministry, the
Prince of Peace is 40 days in the wilderness dealing with the devil. The devil
knows Jesus is swaddled in human flesh. Satan throws every temptation known to
mankind at Jesus, challenging His divinity and taunting Him to demonstrate His
power. Jesus is omnipotent, but restrains Himself. He quotes Scripture showing
the power of the Word, and He defeats all the attacks and temptations. [3]
The Redeemer of mankind spends the
next three years revealing and fulfilling all the prophesies regarding the
Messiah. The culmination comes with His crucifixion: Held on the cross by mankind’s
sin, His blood freely flows to conquer the separation between God and man.
His bruised, battered and dead body
is placed in a new, sealed stone tomb, and three days later the tomb is empty…except
for the linen cloths that had been used to wrap his body. Our Savior arose and
is now seated at the right hand of God His Father.
The conqueror of death reigns
unrestrained. The Son of Man is swaddled no more! Praise God and Merry
Christmas.
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Meditate on how Jesus’ leaving
heaven and all His glory by becoming a human really affects you.
FURTHER
READING:
Vernette and her husband Ken have
been married 49 years. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren from
their two sons and their wives. She serves Oakwood with Family Promise and on
the prayer chain.
[1] Luke 2:52
[2] Luke 2:41-52
[3] Matthew 4:1-11
