Luke 2: 6-7 NIV
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
So on Christmas Eve Mark went to church with me. This was my third time attending a Christmas Eve service at this church. It wasn't until I was there that I remembered that I told myself last year not to go back because they didn't sing any traditional Christmas songs! I need my Silent Night, Away in a Manger and Hark the Herald's......to name a few.
I don't get it at all. Their band apparently has a Christmas album out and they only sang songs from it which I didn't know at all and then at the end of the service they sang "This Christmas" which is a song I like a lot but not in church. Furthermore we only got to sing one song where they put the words up. It was all about their singers.
I was sitting there thinking how can they not have traditional songs in their service. I think those traditional songs are the backbone of our countries traditions. I was thinking how sad it is that all these young children sitting at this service will not have the history of these songs in their lives!
We did like the sermon that the pastor shared which was on the reason Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in the feeding trough/manger. Something I had never heard before. I am sure many of you may know this but in all my years I've never had it told to me this way. Also Mark was not familiar with this. He was raised Catholic but also took theology classes in college.
Back in the days before Jesus' birth they would sacrifice a lamb for God to forgive them for their sins. These lambs had to be perfect, clean and no broken legs. So when they were born the shepherds would choose the perfect lambs and wrap them in the cloth, making sure they wrap the legs and lay them in the trough also called the manger.
He said that it was no coincidence that there was no room at the Inn and that Jesus would be placed in the manger. Wow....right? It was like a light bulb moment for me! It all made perfect sense. What I like to call a "Godincidence!"
He went on to explained how people would have nicknames like "John the Baptist" and that is where Jesus got his nickname "The Lamb of God." Wrapping him in the swaddling cloth and placing him the manger like the sacrificial lambs.
Posts
15 comments:
since none of this is in the Bible i am taking it with a grain of salt and think it might be made up by humans and not God. i have always believed he was born in that manger to show he came not to he rich but to the poor and since there was no room, they had to stay in the barn or maybe cave. the only thing to lay him in was the manger or trough. they always swaddled babies, and i did mine when they were born, which means wrapping them in a baby blanket.
the music has certainly changed and i agree that all the old hymns are only remembered by the older people, which is sad.
i thought it was because of the baby swaddling, too. :)
How interesting... may have to look at the history in that time period. I totally agree with you about the hymns. I do like some of the newer ones but not in church. My husband and I are singing Victory in Jesus this morning. Sang Old Rugged Cross last Sunday. We go to a very small church, but we love it. There is not any of the hype and entertainment of the churches today. I can't help but wonder if Jesus is pleased with all of that?
until next time...nel
That is interesting Debby, I had not heard that about the cloth before, but definitely knew about the sacrifices. I agree with songs, I love the old hymns and Christmas songs, they should be sung more not less.
Betty
I've heard many sermons on Christmas eve, but I've never heard that story before either... wow! I also agree about the hymns because that's a tradition that I've always loved, too.
A Christmas service without Christmas carols? How strange!
Oh, I so agree Debbie. Our churches have strayed so far from anything traditional that it is so disheartening to me. I feel the same way about the hymns as you do about the carols. Our children are never going to have any memory of those precious old hymns. And, I have never heard why God is referred to as "the Lamb of God." How neat!
Well I think the old testament predicted Jesus being born and put in a manger. Hope you have a wonderful new year girl.
That's interesting. I have never heard that before. I have heard that He was born in a barn, because that is where sacrifices are born and that is why He came.
It's interesting to me that the word manger means "feeding trough." I can picture Mary delivering her son in this trough, and then finding it a good place to use for his bed. Perhaps it's appropriate that the Bread of Life was born in a feeding trough - for His life and death, and life again, has given all of us the Bread of ETERNAL Life!!
GOD BLESS!
(P.S. Just the other day my youngest son sent me a photo of his beagle, Marty, completely swaddled in a sheet. Cutest Baby Jesus I've seen! LOL!!)
I don't mind the modern stuff during typical services, but during the holidays (like Christmas, Easter) I definitely prefer the traditional songs. It loses something otherwise.
I'm back from my little break from blogging, and Happy New Year to you! I'm right there with you, I love the "old" traditional Christmas songs too. It just isn't the same without them!
What an interesting post, Debby. I'd never heard that before!
Hope you have a blessed 2015. I like the traditional Christmas songs too and play them every single year. My favorites are on a CD, 'Carols From Trinity College.' Beautiful music and wonderful message in the carols.
I had not heard that before either about the cloth.
Hope you are feeling good in the New Year.
Debby, I love the old carols, too, with some religion in them. I have heard this story about Jesus and the swaddling clothes. I read a lot, so don't know where I saw that. Love you!
Post a Comment