The birth of Christ-the Lamb part 2

Here is my radio script:
As we look at scripture, many times we look at it through a teaching we have heard or a mindset from our own culture. I challenge you to start looking at the word of God and ask God for fresh understand- ing. The Christmas story is just one example. It is rich with symbolism that most of us don't take the time to investigate. Luke 2:7 says “ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Did you ever wonder why God allowed His son to be born in a stable and placed in a manger – a feeding trough? The cattle on a thousand hills belong to God so He could have had His son born in the best palace. Jesus didn't come to us as a King. The Jewish people were looking for a King so many did not recognize Jesus. Jesus came to earth to be the final sacrifice, the sacrificial lamb, and therefore as a lamb, was born in a stable where animals are kept and placed in a manger. We see in the scripture Jesus referred to as the Lamb of God: John the Baptist upon seeing Jesus proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)

In Revelation Jesus is called at least 28 times the Lamb: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).

Jesus came to earth as the lamb to be the final sacrifice to take your place and mine and pay the penalty of death that we owed due to the fall of mankind.

In the Old Testament, God established that the sins of individuals would be symbolically transferred to an animal that would die in his or her place (see Leviticus 1–8). This atoning sacrifice was necessary to meet the righteous demands of a holy and just God. In the Old Testament, the word atonement can be translated to say, "a covering" or "to cover over something." While this atonement provided covering, it didn't get to the root of the problem. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross did. His atoning sacrifice washed away, eliminated, and wiped out all of our sins. Jesus was the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament pointed toward. He became the final sacrifice. As John the Baptist proclaimed, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". (John 1:29).

Did you ever wonder of all the people on this earth why the angels made the announcement of Jesus' birth to a group of shepherds? (Luke 2:8-12) “And shepherds were in this field, living out of doors and keeping watch by night over their flock.” The shepherds that the angels came to were not just any shepherds. They were the Temple shepherds guarding the sacrificial lambs. The angels were announcing to the shepherds keeping watch of the temple sacrificial lambs that the final lamb to be sacrificed had been born. This was another confirmation that God was saying that Jesus is coming to earth as the sacrificial lamb to pay the price for sin and redeem and restore us back to Himself once and for all. It is also interesting to note that this same field is the field of Boaz in the story of Ruth. You might remember that he was the kinsmen redeemer foreshadowing our redeemer Jesus.

Why did the scripture tell you Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes? The term swaddling during that time had a specific meaning and time of year. The angel specifically explains in Luke 2 vs. 12 that Jesus will be found in swaddling clothes and this will be part of the "sign" to them of His true identity as the Savior.

During the time of Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests were in the Temple. Once each year and during this Feast the high priest in the Holy of Holies, would take his linen undergarment, discard it, and lay it at the altar. All the other priests who were serving would also do the same thing right outside the Holy of Holies. These cloths were called swaddling cloths. It was tradition during the Feast of Tabernacles for the high priest’s garment to either be sold for money for the Temple or to be given to the poor. We know that Joseph and Mary were poor because of the sacrifice they gave in the Temple for Jesus’ birth, which was two turtle doves. It was required that you sacrifice a lamb and a dove, but if you were poor, they allowed two doves as Joseph and Mary did. Doesn’t it make sense that Mary got the wrapping cloths from Zacharias the priest, her cousin Elizabeth's husband, who got it from the Temple, where it came from the high priest in the Holy of Holies? As Mary was wrapping her baby, she was wrapping Jesus in high priestly garments. From the minute of conception it was ordained that Jesus would be the final sacrifice and our forever High Priest. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Heb. 4:14.

Don't just read God's Word, but study God's word. Then having your eyes fixed on Jesus step out on the water.