Jesus was born among the lambs
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Jesus was born among the lambs |
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THE birth itself
was clearly a miracle. The mother was a virgin. We profess this
in the Apostles' Creed when we declare that Jesus "was conceived
by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary … "
What is also special about the birth of Jesus is that He was born
in a lowly stable because there was no room at the inn in Bethlehem
which was swollen with crowds trying to register their names in
the census conducted by the Roman government (Lk. 2:1-7).
But was the venue of Jesus' birth merely the result of circumstances?
I do not think so. We can strongly sense that God the Son chose
where He wanted to be born on earth. Instead of choosing some
plush royal venue, He chose a humble stable - a rather unusual
choice, to say the least, especially for one who is a member of
the Trinity!
We know from Scripture that this choice of birthplace was partly
to demonstrate remarkable humility on the part of Jesus. Truly,
He "made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant
… He humbled Himself …" (Phil. 2:7-8).
But there is another reason why Jesus was born in a humble stable.
Certain animals were important in the worship of Israel. Among
them, the lamb stands out as of prime importance. Every Jew who
lived in Jesus' days would immediately know the significance of
lambs in the worship of Israel. Every day two lambs were slaughtered,
morning and afternoon, as a general offering for the sins of the
people.
The Law of God in Israel stipulated the requirement to sacrifice
lambs as sin offerings (Lev. 4:32), guilt offerings (Lev. 14:12),
and other forms of offerings. The liturgical tradition of Israel
was bathed in the blood of sacrificial lambs. But why was this
so? The origins of these practices can be traced to the first
Passover when God freed the Israelites from their miserable lives
as slaves in Egypt (Ex. 12).
The Lamb in the manger
became the turning point
in human history
As a result of the Egyptian Pharoah's
stubborn refusal to release the Israelite slaves, God, through
Moses, gave instructions regarding His rescue plans. Every family
was asked to slaughter a lamb, and apply the blood of the lamb
on the doorposts. God would visit Egypt in judgment that night
and whenever He saw lamb's blood on a doorpost He would pass over
that house. Thus the Israelites were saved from death. As a result
of what happened, the Israelites were led into freedom. The lamb
thus became a symbol of redemption and freedom.
But all the sacrificial lambs of Israel were only symbols in anticipation
of the One Lamb who would bring salvation to Israel and the nations.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah saw that when he wrote about
the Suffering Servant who would come in the future. Seeing far
into the future, Isaiah said, "He was led like a lamb to
the slaughter …" (Is. 53:7).
The painting by Renaissance painter
Raphael.
When we come to
the New Testament we note how John the Baptist, knowing the significance
of Jesus, declared who He was and why He had come to earth: "Look,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn.
1:29). That statement sets ablaze the whole historical and liturgical
tradition of Israel with the glory of God's saving truth. It answers
the longing of every heartfelt prayer and explains the motive
of every divine act. Little wonder then that while still in his
mother's womb, John "leaped for joy" when his mother
met the Lamb's mother (Lk. 1:30-44).
This theme that Jesus is the Lamb of God, through whom the sins
of the world are decisively dealt with, finds rich expression
in the New Testament. Referring to requirements in Jewish religious
rituals, Peter wrote about "the precious blood of Christ,
a lamb without blemish or defect" (1 Pet. 1:19). Likewise,
Paul described Christ as "our Passover Lamb" (1 Cor.
5:7). That this was the way Jesus also understood Himself is seen
in the way the Last Supper is narrated in the Gospels. On the
day of Unleavened Bread when the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed,
Jesus had a meal with His disciples and when offering broken bread
and the juice of crushed grapes, He made it clear that He was
the Passover Lamb who was being offered as a sacrifice for the
sins of the world (Lk. 22:7-20).
That this truth of Jesus as the Lamb of God is of vital importance
is demonstrated by the fact that Jesus is described repeatedly
in the book of Revelation as the Lamb. John saw a vision of the
Lamb that had been slain standing in the centre of the heavenly
throne (Rev. 5:6). Then the four living creatures and the 24 elders
fall down in worship before the Lamb (v. 8). The grand and huge
angelic choir then sing, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour
and glory and praise!" (v 11-12). Then there is the glorious
scene of a great multitude from every tribe and nation standing
before the Lamb (Rev. 7:9), who, as their shepherd, will wipe
every tear-filled face, and quench every thirst of the soul (Rev.
7:15-17).
History will end with the Lamb on the throne, bringing salvation
and ultimate peace.
And this Lamb was born that night in a humble stable of an un-named
inn in an obscure town in Palestine. Besides Joseph and Mary,
the only people who knew about this momentous event were some
poor shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks. Angels
appeared to them to announce the birth of the Lamb.
The herds of these shepherds probably had lambs, some of which
were destined to be temple sacrifices. They were not only to be
food for living but also medicine for guilty souls. But centuries
of sacrifices had not taken away the deeply engraved guilt in
human hearts. It was time for the birth of the Lamb of God who
would finally take away the guilt of the human race.
The shepherds hurried to find the Lamb. Some would have carried
the little lambs on their shoulders (as the painting of the scene
by Renaissance painter Raphael shows). Then they found the Lamb
and praised God. The little lambs bleated, not knowing that the
Lamb had come, so that their kind need not be sacrificed anymore.
The little Lamb in the manger was to become the decisive turning
point in human history. The angels in heaven must have held their
breaths watching the birth of the Lamb. The history of slain lambs
was coming to an unexpected climax. The story of this Lamb was
going to define and redeem history and all the tragic stories
of human beings. Hope had finally arrived in a dark world. It
was time for joyful songs and to start dreaming of a glorious
new day.
QUOTE:
HOPE IN A DARK WORLD
'The angels in heaven must have held their breaths watching the
birth of the Lamb. The history of slain lambs was coming to an
unexpected climax. The story of this Lamb was going to define
and redeem history and all the tragic stories of human beings.
Hope had finally arrived in a dark world. It was time for joyful
songs and to start dreaming of a glorious new day.'