WRAPPED IN
SWADDLING CLOTHES
"GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT
JOY"
By: Dave Franklin
It
was a little more than two thousand years ago when Joseph took Mary to
Bethlehem. In the town, he was told that there was no room in the inn. So
the couple settled in a manger. Mary was expecting a baby, which was
miraculously conceived in Spirit to be the Messiah. Mary's labor reached
completion in that manger. And a child was born, being wrapped thereafter in
swaddling clothes
Nearby, shepherds men were
working in a field when an angel of God came to them and said, "Fear not,
for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
The angel continued, "For unto to you is born this day in the City of David
a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!" The shepherds were told they would find
a "babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
It was at this point when
a wonderful event happened before average working people in the countryside
near Bethlehem. A great multitude of the heavenly host appeared. They
praised God who created Heaven and earth saying, "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Well, you can imagine
that the shepherds were overjoyed by this spectacular occurrence!
So after the angels were
gone, they said to themselves, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see
this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us."
Almost anyone would heartily agree that this was the correct plan of action.
For after being told by the angels that Christ is born, it would hardly be
worth doing any other thing besides making the trip to go see the Lord.
And that's what the
shepherds did. They went to Bethlehem and found the manger where baby Jesus
was wrapped in swaddling clothes. What they saw confirmed that the angel had
indeed imparted "good tidings of great joy". There in a manger was the
newborn Savior. God, who so loved us that he gave his only begotten Son, had
brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born.
The shepherds made it
known what they had seen, and what the angel said. Everyone that heard them
wondered at the things those shepherds told them. Mary kept it to herself
and pondered what it meant in her heart. Afterwards, the shepherds went back
glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.
These shepherds were not the only ones to come
and visit Jesus. In the Far East, three wise men saw a star in the sky that
guided them on a journey to Bethlehem. When they saw the young Jesus, they
fell down and worshipped him, and opened their treasures to
present gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Thousands of
years later, people still give gifts to each other on the day we honor the
birth of Jesus.
Christmas is the first great tradition established by our Lord. No other
event in history has given mankind more to celebrate. All over the world,
people learn about the baby who was born in a manger and wrapped in
swaddling clothes -- how he grew up and taught us more than any other, and
how he bore our shame and sin. Peace comes from our Creator, and the Prince
of Peace reconciled mankind to Him.
On this Christmas, just
like every other one, little children will echo the same wonder of those
shepherds in Bethlehem as their eyes glow with happiness. Parents will learn
yet again one of the great lessons that Jesus taught us; it better to give
than to receive. And, in spite of wars and rumors of wars, the peace that
surpasses understanding will be with those who remember good tidings of
great joy brought to the world by the angels of God just more than two
thousand years ago.
It is fitting that we
celebrate Christmas in America. Those who sought religious freedom to
worship Christ, as they believed was right established our nation. The very
best in our national fabric is rooted in the teachings and actions of Jesus.
That he gave his life for those he loved remains the essence of honor that
has been reflected by men who offered their lives for the protection of
liberty in our nation's rich history. We Americans should never be afraid to
wish "Merry Christmas" to each other.
So to everyone, even those
who would attempt to undermine an American's God-given right to describe one
person's understanding of the events that took place over two millennia ago
(as described in the Gospel), may you all have a wonderful Christmas. And
may God continue to protect and bless us all in the next year of our Lord,
two thousand and three.
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