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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)


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