A baby was born in a humble way – born not in a sterile hospital bed, not in a luxurious home or palace, but born in the midst of animals. The child who entered this world was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger (Luke 2:7). The Christmas story is a familiar one to most people. It is a wonderful story of birth, joy and celebration. When we think of the image of a child born in such a peaceful environment and wrapped in swaddling clothes it brings out images of innocence. Jesus entered this world as a perfect child. There was no sin, no flaw, no imperfection found in this child. The Christmas story as told in Luke 2 is a story of innocence and peace.

However, as we know from living in this sinful world, innocence and peace do not last. After all we live in a world filled with sin, wickedness, hatred, injustice, and evil. Nowhere is this truth more prevalent than in the story of Christ. Jesus was perfect but the people around Him were not. They were filled with sin, jealousy, and hatred.

The sin of the people was something the innocent Son of God was willing to carry on His shoulders as He went to the cross. Jesus took the guilt of the world on His back as He was flogged and carried the cross to Golgotha. There Jesus was crucified. Then in Luke 23:53 we are told how the body of Christ was taken down from the cross, wrapped in a linen cloth, and placed in a tomb. Luke was inspired by God to tell the story of Christ by bracketing His Gospel with Jesus’ clothes, beginning with the strips of cloth for the infant and ending with his dead body wrapped in cloth for burial. The swaddle clothes speak to us of the innocence and holiness of the Son of God. The burial cloth speaks to us of the price that Jesus paid for our sin.

Because Jesus came as innocent and holy we know that His sacrifice was pure. We also know that through faith in Him we also will be made holy and perfect in heaven. Furthermore, after His innocent death upon the cross Jesus’ body was wrapped in a cloth and buried. The payment for our sins was made in full. Through faith in Jesus God now grants to us His Divine forgiveness. Our sin is removed and all that remains is the perfection and holiness of God.

The story of swaddling clothes to a linen burial cloth is good news for us. Now we can look forward to the day when God will make us innocent and holy just as He is. Furthermore when we look to the clothes of Christ we can also look past the burial cloths and see what Peter and John did at the empty tomb – the burial clothes neatly folded up without a body (John 20:6-7). Christ has risen. Because of Jesus now we can look forward to the day when death will be removed and new life will be given to us in heaven. Heaven will be such a place where there will only be the perfection of God. It will be a place where there will be no wickedness or evil. Heaven will be a place where there will be no more burial clothes. Death will no longer exist and there will be only life everlasting.

This Christmas may God enable us to see the innocence of the swaddling clothes and trust that because of Christ one day we will be made innocent. May God also enable us to look further in the story to see the burial cloth and the price that was paid for our sins. Thirdly, may God also help us to look ahead to the empty burial cloths and know that because of Jesus we will live. From the swaddling clothes to the burial cloth the story of our salvation gives all of us a reason for good will and cheer in this Christmas season.

Pastor Schoenfeld

Merry Christmas!