The Sign in the Manger: Shepherds Recognize the Messiah

One way that they would do that to take care of these lambs, is as they took them back to the house, they would take them and wrap them in strips of cloth.See any parallels yet?So they would take the lambs and they didn't use good cloth.They used strips of cloth because that was their rags and their extras.And they would wrap it, especially their legs in this, because that was the most vulnerable part.And then they would take them over and they would lay them in the watering trough. [00:41:48] (32 seconds)  #SwaddledLikeALamb

And the angels tell the shepherds, go and you'll find a manger.They already knew they'd find a manger, right?There's lots of them.And if they were to go and find a manger and they found a baby lamb wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying there in the little water trough off to the side being protected, would that be surprising?No, that's what they expect to find, right?So what is the sign is where you would see the Passover lamb, you'll see the Christ child.That's the sign. [00:44:54] (34 seconds)  #PassoverLambSign

Now, how many of you would have known that without being told that?I wouldn't.I would not have recognized the sign.Now, it would probably be necessary for you to go tell somebody that would recognize that sign, like a shepherd.It's out keeping watch over their flock, don't I?It was important to go and tell the shepherds because only the shepherds would look at that and say, that's Passover lamb.That's the sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world.And so when they came and they saw this child wrapped in swaddling cloths, it wasn't because the family was poor and didn't have anything but straps of cloths.It's because God wanted it that way. [00:45:32] (47 seconds)  #RecognizeTheSign

But what we find is the shepherds see that and light up with joy, with excitement, because they know what this means.They know that when the Messiah comes, he will take away the sin of the world.They know what this Passover lamb is all about.They know that the Passover is pointing towards that future celebration where the Messiah would come and be sacrificed on behalf of the people.The shepherds recognize the sign and they leave with overwhelming joy.They now know the Messiah is here.They now know what's going to happen.And they are so excited. [00:47:28] (42 seconds)  #ShepherdsKnewTheSign

Everybody they go and tell seems to be just as excited as they are and have that same joy in their hearts.That joy that they're able to experience because they know there is a Messiah that has come for them.Do you know that there's a Messiah that has come for you?Do you know that someone has come and given his life, who has died on a cross, who has been raised from the dead, all that you might have?That will bring you joy.That will bring you joy. [00:48:11] (35 seconds)  #JoyThroughTheCross

When you recognize that, you will have that joy.If you are here today and you know that Jesus Christ has come as a baby in a manger and what that means for you, then you should have joy in your heart.You should have so much joy bubbling out of you because you know that you are loved and valued.You are seen and known by God.You don't have to earn it and you can't lose it.You have a Messiah that has come to rescue you, not to ask you to rescue yourself.You have a Messiah that has come to pour out his love on you. [00:48:47] (42 seconds)  #JoyOfTheIncarnation

Perhaps he wants you to hear a little bit of what he's saying to your heart today.That you have an identity in him.That you are loved by him.And that you are part of what he's doing in this community.You're not a victim of faith.You have victory over death.You can find victory over the sin in your life as well.You can find victory that death no longer separates us from those that we love.It's no longer an ending.It's just a process.You have so much reason for joy in this life if you have Christ in your life. [00:51:41] (44 seconds)  #IdentityInChrist

If you can recognize that the Messiah has come, that the Christ has come, then you have that reason for joy bubbling up in you.And so my question for you today is, does it give you joy when I tell you that the Messiah has come for you today?That he's come to show you that you are loved and valued and important and have a purpose and have a reason for the things that you're going through and that you're doing.That God has his hand on your life. [00:52:25] (31 seconds)  #MessiahBringsJoy