Please permit me one more Christmas meditation…

I wrote earlier about the baby Jesus himself being the sign to the shepherds; here’s some additional insight from Bruce Simmons, translator of The Passion Translation, from which I quote from time to time. Here’s his footnote from Luke 2.8 when the shepherds are introduced:

Many scholars believe that these could be the same fields where sacrificial flocks were kept for temple worship.

Bethlehem was only 6 miles from Jerusalem, hence a good place to raise lambs for sacrifice. But here’s the kicker—the note from verse 12 about the baby being the sign:

A baby lying in a feeding trough where animals were kept nearby, wrapped in strips of cloths, became a sign of the Man-Savior’s life on earth…The shepherds that night were possibly near Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the [watch] tower of the flock.” …It was at the lower floor of the watchtower (Migdal Eder) that the birthing of the Passover lambs would take place. Selected ewes that were about to give birth would be brought there. After the birth of the lambs, the priestly shepherds would wrap the lambs in cloth and lay them in a manger lined with soft hay to prevent them from hurting themselves, for Passover lambs must be unblemished with no bruise or broken bone. The miracle sign for these priestly shepherds would be a baby boy lying where the Passover lamb should be—in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth.

I don’t think that needs more comment!

That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!” (Luke 2.8 – 11, Passion Translation)