The Tower of the Flock

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Luke 2:8

This being the Christmas season it is a time to consider the true meaning of why we celebrate it.  At the beginning Christ the Word became flesh and lived among us.  He was called the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

He was God’s sacrificial Lamb who would be the ultimate approval of God in His judgment of sin.  Rabbinic tradition tells of how the flock of sacrificial lambs were kept in the field of David, outside of Bethlehem.  This field is where the angelic hosts appeared to the shepherds the night of Christ's birth. A priest would come to the field every day to inspect the lamb to ensure it was not disfigured in any way.

This job was so important that the shepherds built towers to give them an overall view of the flock, guarding it against harm.  The chosen lamb would be inspected by the priest, and when it was found acceptable it was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.  It would not walk to the temple as something harmful might happen, and heaven forbid it would squirm out of the arms of the priest. 

A remedy to God’s hatred of sin was needed to satisfy His wrath against it.  His ideal remedy was not to clear the slate of mankind’s rebellion, but to give Himself as the perfect atonement for it.

He instituted the sacrificial program of animal sacrifice showing that the punishment of sin was so serious that the payment of shedding blood and death would be the ultimate payment for the human race.  While the sacrifice was only a temporary covering, it was a picture of a future permanent salvation and an open door to reestablishing fellowship with God. In the First Covenant, the Old Testament, His high tower were the Jewish prophets, who gave an overall view of Messiah, His message, and death (Daniel 9:26).

This Lamb of God is the perfect answer to a weary world and to a weary year that has seen little reason to rejoice.  Yet we have the Chosen Child, born of Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger, God in the flesh becoming a ransom to satisfy His own wrath.  Amazing grace.  If you want to receive Him you simply need to believe on Him and rejoice that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  If you know Him, rejoice that He ever intercedes for you to our Father God.  Either way this weary world still has reason to rejoice.  The Lamb of God is His Perfect Gift who takes away the sin of the world. Let us rejoice!  Merry Christmas.

Ken