Skip to main content

The Cloth That Binds

Bound by cloth, he appeared helpless.

Bound by cloth again, he appeared to have no say in the matter.

The first time, it was the swaddling cloths, those strips of cloth that are wrapped around a baby to bind them for their comfort and security.

The last time, it was the burial cloths, those strips of cloth that are wrapped around a body to bind in the burial spices to mask the odors during the mourning period.

The first time, the Savior entered the world as a baby.[1]

The last time, the Savior left the world as a corpse.[2]

The first time, the cloth was removed as the baby grew.

The last time, the cloth was left behind when the Savior rose from the dead.

The prophet Isaiah wrote about the things that bind:  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound  (Isa 61:1)

Know this, Jesus was not broken, as we are, with a need to be bound.

Know this, Jesus was not bound, as we are, with a need to be set free.

Jesus did, however, submit himself to being bound, first by swaddling cloths and then by burial clothes.

The swaddling cloths pointed to the fact that He voluntarily became bound by flesh in order to dwell among us.  Yet flesh lost its grip when He ascended in a glorified body.

The burial cloths pointed to the fact that He voluntarily became bound by death in order to die for our sins.  Yet death lost its grip when He was raised from the dead

So for us, because He was bound, our brokenness can be bound up.

So for us, because He was bound, we can be set free from that to which we are bound.


[1] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manager, because there was not place for them in the inn.  (Luke 2:7)

[2] They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:40)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can't Get No Satisfaction

One of the songs that were popular in my youth was not particularly upbeat or helpful but it probably did express some of the angst of my generation.  It was not one that particularly resonated with me but as I recently read the book of Haggai, it did come to mind, well, at least some of the lyrics did.  It was the Rolling Stones song with the lyrics “I can’t get no satisfaction”.  Take a look at the chorus of that bleak song:   I can't get no satisfaction; I can't get no satisfaction; Gonna try and I try and I try and I try; I can't get no - I can't get no –   Now take a look at Haggai 1:6 – “ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” It sure sounds like the people of Judah couldn’t get any satisfaction with the things of life that normally should have brought some type of s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hide Not...

Over the centuries, the words have brought great comfort and encouragement.   The words are often used as a benediction or a blessing:   The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.   (Num 6:24-26)   What in the world is a countenance?  By definition, it is a person's face or facial expression. So if the Lord’s face shines upon us and if He lifts up His countenance upon us, what does all that mean? It means that He is giving us His attention.  But even more so, His face shining upon us gives us t he picture of a beaming face like that of a parent for their beloved child.  And the reference to Him lifting up His countenance points to God extending divine favor and peace to us. Sometimes we can appreciate things more by seeing opposites.  The opposite of a lifted face is a face that has fallen, perhaps because of sham...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Fewer, the Better and the Simpler, the Better!

Sometimes, the fewer the words, the better…  Many would probably argue that the most important words in the English language, when strung altogether in the right order, are just three simple words.  And each of those three words is just a one syllable word.  So, not only the fewer the better but also, as a bonus, the simpler, the better! Oh, the three words…they are “I love you” – few, simple and altogether meaningful!      God used them to encourage His people, the people of Israel :  “You are priceless to me. I love you and honor you. So I will trade other people for you. I will give up other nations to save your lives.” (Isa 43:4) The significance of the words “I love you” is inestimable, especially when used in a way that communicates value and commitment And when you look at Jeremiah 31:3, you see a past tense of those words so that “I love you” is “I have loved you”.  But that’s not all that the verse says, the “I have loved y...
Post a Comment
Read more