Bands of Cloth

¹⁰But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ Luke 2:10-12

Imagine a grandfather’s delight as I poured over every photo of our granddaughter, Sawyer Marlee Smith, born into this world last Tuesday in Dallas!  As I joyfully looked at the pictures I exclaimed to Rita:  “Just look at her beautiful baby skin, and her soft, warm blankets!”  It was all so wonderful to look at!

Then I turn from photos of our grandbaby blissfully asleep in cozy blankets I read today’s text about God’s Son “wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  Every time I read these words I want to both cry and to laugh at the same time.  This is the profundity and wonder of Christmas!  The Eternal Son, before whom highest angels hide their eyes, lies helpless in a feeding trough for cattle.  An unusual place for any newborn, but especially, for Messiah God who has come to save his people.

But the angel tells the shepherds that all this is to be a sign to them: “you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  This must not be a sign to help them locate the child because there must be hundreds of feeding troughs and mangers in the area of Bethlehem.  Rather this is a sign to reveal something about the child’s life and mission.  The newborn babe, pushed aside, and lying in a manger “wrapped in bands of cloth.” 

Many of us are familiar with this text in the King James Version which translates this as “wrapped in swaddling clothes.”  But most modern translations, including our text (The New Revised Standard Version), translate this more accurately as “bands of cloth.”  And it is these bands of cloth that will be a sign to shepherds about the child’s character and significance. 

When the Jews were in Egypt, centuries before, they had learned the custom of wrapping their dead in bands of cloth.  The word translated as “bands of cloth” in our text, is translated elsewhere as “burial bandages.”  And the Gospel of John tells us that the dead bodies of Lazarus, and the Lord Jesus were wrapped in “bands of cloth” (John 11:44; John 19:40; 20:5-6). 

At the Christ Child’s great condescension, at his coming down to take to human form, he is not wrapped in a warm receiving blanket, but wrapped in bands of cloth.   And as the shepherds find the manger and gaze at the little King he will look to them just like a little corpse prepared for burial.  The significance is clear. 

From the very beginning God had signified to his people that one day he himself would come, and in utter lowliness and humility he would not come to rule as earthly kings but to lay down his life as a sacrifice for sin.  It will be just as the angel had told Joseph:  “You will call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). 

Thus, Christ our Lord begins and ends his life wrapped in bands of cloth.  This is his reason for coming.  He comes not be a great teacher, spiritual guru, or the inspiration for art and architecture, but he comes to be our Savior. 

Here is truly good news of great joy for all people this Christmas!

Tim Smith

We look forward to resuming our weekly classes at the Franciscan Renewal Center on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 in the Year of Our Lord!!

In the Year of Our Lord

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ ⁷So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Galatians 4:4-7

It happened when the fullness of time had come – in the seven hundred and fifty second year from the founding of Rome, in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad, and the forty second year of the reign of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus.  It happened in the fullness of time that God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, and history suddenly turned on its axis. 

The ancient world had reckoned time from the founding of the city of Rome, as well as the first Olympic game, and the first year of the Roman Emperor’s reign.  But with Christ’s Advent, the world could no longer look at time as they were accustomed.  With Christ’s coming they were compelled to think of history as time before Christ came (B. C.) and time after Christ came (A. D., anno donini, “the year of our Lord”). 

While this year store clerks and circuit court judges may wrestle with the appropriateness of saying “Merry Christmas”,  the reality is that every calendar, postmark, and newspaper declares that we are living in “the year of our Lord.”  Every time we date a check or a letter we are proclaiming the centrality of Christ’s birth.   His intervention into time parts history.  The whole wide world, both east and west, daily acknowledge his birth as the turning point in time. 

Perhaps more remarkable than this, are millions of people who think of their own lives as B. C., and A. D. –  or life before Christ entered in, and life ever since.  We speak of the real difference Christ makes for us, our marriages, our homes, careers, and communities.    Every day we experience the promise of Scripture: ^“If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (II Corinthians 5:17).  We revel in the angel’s announcement to shepherds on that first Christmas night:  “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people” Luke 2:10).

In a Christmas sermon of long ago, Martin Luther spoke something important for all to ponder this season: 

Of what benefit would it be to me if Christ had been born a thousand times, and it would daily be sung into my ears in a most lovely manner, if I were never to hear that he was born for me and was to be my very own?

In the Year of Our Lord,

Tim Smith

• For the Water from Rock daily Advent reflections see website, WaterfromRock.org, “Advent Devotionals” .
• Add to your Advent celebration by joining us Tuesday, December 1, 8, 15, at 7:00 P.M., at the Franciscan Renewal Center for “The Gospel According to Handel’s Messiah.”

Awe-inspiring and sublime, Handel’s majestic Messiah has thrilled listeners for more than 250 years.  In these Tuesday classes we will delve into Messiah’s text that is taken from the literal words of scripture and discover the historical and biblical background of the texts that inspired the music.  This will surely add to your joy and this Advent!

BRING A CHRISTMAS DESERT

• Weekly Bible Class:  “In the Fullness of Time” 

Every Tuesday, 11:00 a.m., at the Franciscan Renewal Center

BRING A SACK LUNCH PLUS CHRISTMAS DESERT

Christmas Light

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined…
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.             

Isaiah 9:2,6

I love the poster that says, “Just when the caterpillar thought it’s world had ended, it became a butterfly.”  Like the poster says, I have seen again and again how God gives new beginnings to his people.

The composer, George Frederic Handel thought his life had come to an end when he was moved to write his immortal oratorio, Messiah.  His popularity had waned and he believed he had given his last concert.  The public had lost taste for his kind of music.  One London newspaper dismissed him as the “German nincompoop.”  A string of bad investments had left him nearly penniless and facing debtors’ prison.  Added to this was his paralysis from two strokes and the chronic pain of rheumatoid arthritis.  Handel retreated to near seclusion and battled the darkness of his depression. 

Then, unexpectedly, Handel received a parcel in the mail from his friend Charles Jennens.  The parcel contained scriptures that Jennens wanted Handel to set to music.  Strangely and powerfully Handel was taken up with the scriptures before him.   He was so moved that he put pen to paper and began composing at a furious pace.  Often going without food and sleep he completed the 226 pages of Messiah in only 24 days!  At one point in his composing, he burst from his study with tears in his eyes and script in hand, declaring: “I think I did see heaven before me, and the great God himself seated on his throne.”

Handel’s Messiah opened to great acclaim on April 13, 1742, in Dublin, Ireland, and has ever since been a treasured part of our Christmas celebration.   Yet Handel chose never to receive a penny from Messiah, but directed all receipts to charities, especially the care of homeless children and prisoners.  At a Messiah performance in London honoring his seventy-fourth birthday, a blind Handel responded to the thunderous applause by saying: “Not from me, but from Heaven, comes all.” 

From heaven had come Handel’s light and his inspiration for the darkest days.  When he had feared his life was over God gave him new beginnings.   What Isaiah foretold of Messiah’s coming was true for Handel, and is true for any who look to the Christ:  they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.  For unto us a child is born…”

Let his Light shine!

Tim Smith

• Add to your Advent celebration by joining us Tuesday, December 1, 8, 15, at 7:00 P.M., at the Franciscan Renewal Center for “The Gospel According to Handel’s Messiah.” 

Awe-inspiring and sublime, Handel’s majestic Messiah has thrilled listeners for more than 250 years.  In these Tuesday classes we will delve into Messiah’s text that is taken from the literal words of scripture and discover the historical and biblical background of the texts that inspired the music.  This will surely add to your joy and this Advent!

• Weekly Bible Class on  ROMANS 8:  THE PINNACLE OF GRACE

Every Tuesday, 11:00 a.m., at the Franciscan Renewal Center

Bible scholars have described the eighth chapter of Romans as “the mountain peak of Scripture,” and the “chapter of chapters for the Christian.”  Another commentator has said, “If Holy Scripture was a ring, and the Epistle to the Romans a precious stone, chapter eight would be the sparkling point of the jewel!”  You’re invited to join us in an exploration of Romans eight and the heights of God’s grace!