“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12

Whenever there is a major event expected to occur, God always gives a SIGN.  The word – sign is also a form of the word – signature. All scripture has God’s signature inspired by His Holy Spirit to reveal major times, events and persons ordained for His Purpose (2 Timothy 3:16).  The most important sign signifying God’s presence and intervention in our lives  is the sign given to the One sent to redeem mankind:
He was born for one purpose, to die- “to set men free” * Isaiah 61:1 * Luke 4:18

This sign was proclaimed by angels to the lowly Shepherds who were about their work shepherding the sheep in the fields that night. The fact that the Messiah would be wrapped or swaddled, bound  by strips of clothes has spiritual significance in relationship to the bondage of sin and our own unrighteousness ( Isaiah 64:6).  Just as in birth in death strips of cloth were wrapped (Deo) around the body of Jesus for burial (John 19:28-42).
So in birth and in death He was  bound by strips of cloth signifying  how we from birth to death are in bondage to our sins:

But“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Corinthians 5: 21

What happened to those blood stained strips of cloth that represented all our unrighteousness (Isaiah 64:6) keeping us in bondage to sin- pain, , hurt and emotional turmoil, never finding peace within our souls?

“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”   Luke 24:12

At His resurrection, after the sin debt was completed, Jesus laid aside all our sins from birth to burial, just as He laid aside those burial cloths.  He paid for the past, present, future sins of all mankind, then laid them aside never to be remembered again. Psalm 103:12

However, if we never unwrap God’s gift,  for ourselves, how can we receive the gift that sets us free?

Today you may be opening beautiful gifts bound with colorful paper and ribbons. As the strips fall away to reveal the gift inside, remember the greatest gift of all is the gift that was given  at the fullness of time (Galatians 4: 4-7) wrapped up as a lamb (John 1:29) born in a stable, lying in a manger,  and buried in a borrowed grave.

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

Have you unwrapped and uncovered God’s greatest gift revealed that keeps on living and giving and can never be taken  away? Are you clothed in His Righteousness and Unconditional Love?   John 3:16 / Romans 13:14 /Romans 8:1

“ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish , but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Happy New Year and Peace in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!