The words of C.S. Lewis can be overwhelming at times. His deep thoughts and deep dives into theology often amaze me. He, also, had the ability to sum up the most powerful truths into a sentence or two.
"Once in our world, a stable had something that was bigger than our whole world." -C.S. Lewis
Nothing fancy for the tiny King. He arrived to free a people who had grown weary of waiting. He came in an unexpected package, although fulfilling many prophecies. Many found it difficult to see the promises fulfilled.
This is the most "Holy Night." A baby really did change everything.
Merry Christmas Eve. Tonight's the night!
"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” -Luke 2:12
As I looked for this scripture about Jesus being wrapped lovingly in strips of cloth... I found this:
"Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth," -Matthew 27:59
Another Joseph... same Jesus. I have never thought about the echoes of His birth seen in the aftermath of the crucifixion. He was born to die. But first he would experience life in human skin. It is really all quite profound.
At his humble birth, the Joseph chosen by God (for his character and courage because he had no wealth)... to be Jesus's earthly father... brought strips of cloth to Mary so she could wrap the child(inferred since she had just given birth and was in no shape to get them herself). The baby Jesus... once safe in his mother's womb... was experiencing the cool chill of the evening. Gentle Joseph would bring her the prepared strips of cloth and she would wrap her miracle and hold him tightly in her arms. Surely, the blood stain of birth was present on the linens.
After the crucifixion, his mother, Mary, was in no shape to wrap her precious beaten, battered, and pierced son in death linens. How could she? Another Joseph... a man of courage and wealth this time... asked Pilate if he could take Jesus. He wrapped the very same Jesus in clean death linens. The linens would absorb the blood of His sacrifice. It gives me chills to think about it.
Let's return to the night of the nativity:
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." -Luke 2:10
His birth. His sacrifice for our propitiation (the paying of a debt in full). His return is on the horizon. "He will come wearing a white robe dipped in blood:
He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God." -Revelation 19:13
The blood of His birth. The blood from his death on the cross. The blood of our redemption is "dipped" on His robe. (In Genesis 37:31, Joseph's brothers dipped his robe in goat's blood and lies.) The Blood of the Lamb paid our sin debt in full! It all comes to pass in His time.
"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. " -Titus 2:11-14
I love a good mystery! On this Christmas Eve, let us pause to ponder the connections between the Old and the New Testaments (check out Hebrews 9:12-14) and the light of truth shines bright on this Holy Night.
Today, I am grateful for something bigger.
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