Bethlehem is an unlikely setting for the birth of a king. With neither golden palace, nor assembled
nation, Bethlehem’s
manger was a hidden and humble site to honor the birth of royalty. Bethlehem was also
the home of Migdal Edar, which in Hebrew means, “The Watchtower of the Temple Flocks”,
where sacrificial lambs were raised. At
Migdal Edar, all perfect, first-born, male lambs born to temple flocks were set
apart to be sacrificed in the temple. Bethlehem’s shepherds
watched over these special lambs day and night, wrapping their fragile limbs in
swaddling clothes to protect them from injury.
Ironically, baby Jesus was wrapped in these same swaddling clothes that
holy night.
Summoned by the Angel of the Lord to
behold and adore the Savior, Bethlehem’s
shepherds did not know that this infant had called light out of darkness, flung
innumerable stars into the heavens, held the oceans in the palm of His hand,
and laid the foundation of the earth.
Little did the shepherds know that they were worshipping God in the form
of a Baby - an unseen Lamb. The Creator
of the universe had taken the humble form of an innocent infant. This first-born, unblemished, male Infant was
set apart from birth in Bethlehem
that night to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward
him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Generations earlier, in obedience to the
Father, Abraham took his son of promise, Isaac, to be sacrificed at Mount Moriah
- the future location of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem.
For centuries thereafter, lambs daily retraced Abraham’s steps to Jerusalem’s temple altar to be sacrificed to cover Israel’s
sins. Like Abraham, the Father prepared
His only begotten Son, Jesus, to become the sacrificial Lamb that would be
offered up in Jerusalem. Concealed that night from Bethlehem’s shepherds were the nails that
would one day pierce this Infant’s hands and feet, and the crown of thorns that
would puncture His skull. Little did
Mary know that the flesh on her Infant’s back would one day be ripped and torn
by a soldier’s whip. Mary held and
beheld the Lamb of God, Who by His blood would remit the sins and heal the
bodies of all mankind.
The
Precious Blood of the Lamb
Not only was Jesus’ conception divine in
nature, so was His blood. Conceived by
the Holy Spirit, the Lamb’s blood was unique - entirely different from any
blood ever identified or examined by medical science. The blood that flowed
through Jesus’ veins was perfect - pure and uncontaminated by Adam’s sin nature. Biologically speaking, the mother’s placenta
prohibits the mother’s blood from flowing into the fetus. Therefore, Mary’s blood never mixed with
Jesus’ blood. Although Mary was the
Lord’s chosen vessel to bring the Savior into the world, Jesus blood originated
with the Father. His precious blood,
that later was shed on the cross, redeemed the sin of all men for all time.
1 Peter 1:18-19 “Knowing
that you were not redeemed with
corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received
by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.”
Thirty three years after His birth, Jesus
journeyed the same road Abraham traversed with Isaac – Calvary’s
road of suffering. Countless lambs had been
taken down this path to the altar temple of sacrifice to make atonement for
men’s sins. Down this road the Lamb of
God carried a cross, one on which He would be sacrificed for our sins. Despising the pain and shame, the Lamb not
only endured, but also embraced this cross, because of His great love for you
and me.
Revelation
5:12 “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and
wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
This Christmas season let’s worship the
Lamb that was born in a manger in Bethlehem
over two thousand years ago, by honoring His blood. The Lamb’s blood shed on Calvary’s
cross not only brings forgiveness, healing, and protection, but also eternal
life to those who covenant with Him.
Indeed, let’s not forget that the universe’s greatest love and power
flows from the precious blood of the Lamb!
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