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)
[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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