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
