Without the Cradle

Luke 2:12
         "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
       
Have you ever considered without the cradle there wouldn't be the cross, and without the cross there wouldn't be salvation? Without salvation we wouldn't have the promise of heaven.

There is so much more to Christmas than a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. In the previous verses Luke tells of shepherds watching their flock by night.

           And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."         Luke 2:9-11

When Christ came to earth as a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, He came as our Savior, to make us clean before the Father, to take away the sins of the world. He came to give us a promise of eternal life with Him.
       
            The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.!"              John 1:29

Without the cradle, Christ would have never faced the cross. Without the cross, we would be lost in our sins, facing a future of eternal damnation.

As I focus on Christmas, I will not longer just think of a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. I will think of my Savior, and how as a sweet little Babe He came for me, willing to take my punishment, that I may have life eternal with Him.

From the cradle to the cross, from the cross to Christ our Lord and Savior. This is Christmas!

Emmanuel, God with Us! Glory to Him in the Highest!!