Luke 2:8, In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
What kind of sign was this that the angels directed the shepherds to? Think about the context surrounding this sign that was connected to a Savior that would bring “good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people.”
Jesus was born in a barn that was carved out of stone in the side of a hill in Bethlehem, and a feeding trough served as a crib. The manger, of course, was not a very sterile place to lay a baby. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a cow or donkey eat, but it’s not necessarily a lesson in eating etiquette, and manners. Lots of drooling, and etc. into the manger, which even when wiped clean was still germ and bacteria filled. The strips of cloth, were just rags lying around the stable used for stable duties. This was the great “sign” of news so good that it brings GREAT joy to all people. This was the great sign of the incarnational nature of redemption. God was not offended, or embarrassed about Jesus being clothed in unclean rags. He chose them intentionally, and Jesus is not embarrassed, or offended that He has clothed Himself in the rags of our fallen and frail humanity. That’s the SIGN. He clothes Himself with us intentionally regardedless of how unclean, we’ve been, or how useless and worthless we’ve felt.
Not only is Jesus not appalled with the rags of our broken, and needy humanity; instead, He proudly clothes Himself with them, and through them, manifests His glory. In our weakness, His strength is made perfect; for we have this treasure (the very glory of God in the person of Christ) in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of power may be of God and not of ourselves. The nativity; the incarnational sign of our redemption is a “rags to riches” story. 2 Cor. 8: 9 , “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”