Discover Wonder in Unexpected Places Bethlehem

“And this will be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

I am the worst gift wrapper. My ability to accurately judge the amount of paper required to fit around a rectangle box without leaving an inch of present peeking out is severely compromised. Perfectly coiffed triangle corners meticulously donned with invisible tape? Forget it. And don’t even get me started on homemade ribbons and tags. Yeah, that’s not happening. Hello plastic bag of red, green and silver dollar-store stick-on bows.

Each Christmas, we hunker down in my living room for the annual “woeful wrapping night.” But one year, it felt different. Christmas was different because of a little town called Bethlehem. 2000 years ago, God gave the greatest gift – His only Son – and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. As I walked out of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, our guide shared poignant insights while we gazed down the hill at the “Shepherd’s Field." This was the field where the angelic host announced the arrival of the King to a handful of lowly, insignificant shepherds.

Why them?

Why that field?

Why this place?

It wasn’t just any field, and they weren’t just any shepherds. It wasn’t just any place.

The ancient Jewish prophet Micah foretold the birthplace for the coming Messiah 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament clearly states that the Messiah would be born at “the tower of the flock,” which in Hebrew is “Migdal Edar,” in a small town called Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity is built on the site of the former “Migdal Edar,” a watchtower constructed to protect the city. It was also used by the priestly shepherds to watch over their flocks in Bethlehem.

Under the supervision and care of the Jewish Rabbis, these distinctive shepherds raised the lambs used for sacrifices in the Temple just 4 miles away in Jerusalem. Uniquely trained for this royal task, it was their job to ensure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished, disqualifying it as a sacrifice. The lambs were born in the lower portion of this watchtower, in a cave. The shepherds carefully wrapped the newborn lambs in “swaddling clothes” to protect them from harm and lay them in a manger – a feeding trough – until they were calm enough to give to the mother.

As Mary and Joseph prepared to make the journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the census, Joseph thoughtfully wrapped a “swaddling cloth” around his waist. According to custom, if someone died while on an arduous journey, their body would be wrapped in linen “swaddling cloth” – grave cloths – so they could be buried with a blessing.

The angels told the priestly shepherds exactly where to find Jesus: “And this will be a sign unto you: You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12

They hastily left their fields to discover a young couple, taking refuge in the very cave where sacrificial lambs were born. They were amazed to find Jesus, wrapped in swaddling cloths, just like they wrapped their lambs.

Jesus, the Bread of Life, was born in Bethlehem, “the House of Bread,” and laid in a feeding trough.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, was wrapped in grave clothes because He was born to be the sacrifice for our sins. He died a brutal death in Jerusalem, the place were sacrifices were given.

Jesus, the King of Kings, was willing to lay aside His glory and wrap Himself in humanity for us – for our salvation.

Jesus died to take our messy situations…our broken lives…our wrecked emotions...and wrap it in His love. God’s wrapped His purpose around our pain.

My Christmas tree may shade some pretty pitifully wrapped gifts, but I’m okay with that. The gift that really matters doesn’t need 6-inch ribbon curls: it needs a surrendered heart. This Christmas, allow God to wrap your life with the gift of His peace and provision. Perhaps Christmas will look a little different for you, too. Before you reach for wrapping paper, reach for gratitude that God wrapped His purpose around our pain.

Make Your Life Matter No Matter What

With Love,

Angela