Luke 2:7-18

I love the story of Jesus’ birth. Stables, donkeys, angels, mangers, shepherds…Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem…the “House of Bread”. Joseph walking that rocky dirt road and Mary presumably riding a donkey. The wonder of it all still moves in a deep place in my heart.

A few years ago I studied the Feasts of Israel. The shepherds stood out in neon. The angels tell the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all people; for today in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be A SIGN FOR YOU; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” NASB

Why in the world would a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger be a sign?

Micah 5:2 declares that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 4:8 declares Messiah would be announced at the tower of the flock…in Hebrew Migdal Eder. It was a two-story tower built in a pasture outside of Bethlehem. Its ruins have been discovered.

The shepherds were not ordinary shepherds. They were priests there to assist in the birth of the sacrificial lambs for Passover. The sheep about to give birth were brought into the tower and as soon as the lambs were born they were wrapped in cloths made from priestly undergarments. Then the lambs were placed in a manger so they wouldn’t be trampled.

What must the shepherds have thought when they saw Jesus wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger? They have just been wrapping sacrificial lambs in cloths and laying them in mangers…They had to make the connection! The angel did say, “This will be a sign to you…”

How did this change their lives? Did they really understand what they had experienced? Did they watch the child from afar? When Mary and Joseph made their trips to Jerusalem for the feasts, did the shepherd/priests check on Jesus? Were they in the crowds that heard Him preach? Did they realize that John the Baptist was the forerunner? Were they baptized? Were they at the cross? Were they at Pentecost?

There is no definitive way to answer. I want to believe they could not deny the obvious. But sometimes, for all of us, truth can be standing right in front of us and we just don’t see it.

Father, let this be a “sign” to us as well.