A Message of Sacrifice

Imagine yourself journeying to the ancient Middle East. In that era, covenants were sacred, and their significance far surpassed the contracts of today. There were no papers to sign or lawyers to consult. Instead, these agreements were sealed with blood, symbolizing an unbreakable bond. This ancient practice, though stark, forms the backdrop for understanding one of the most moving messages of Christmas—a message of sacrifice.
When God made a covenant with Abraham, it was more than a promise. It was an act of divine commitment. Genesis 15 recounts how Abraham prepared a blood path by cutting animals in half, creating a grisly aisle of sacrifice. In a traditional covenant ceremony, both parties would walk through the path, declaring, "If I break this agreement, let this be done to me." But something extraordinary happened in Abraham’s case: God walked the blood path twice, once for His end of the covenant and once for Abraham's end of it. By doing so, He declared that not only would He uphold His end of the covenant, He would also bear the penalty if Abraham or his descendants broke their end of the covenant, which as you may know, they did.

Fast forward two millennia to a humble stable in Bethlehem. There, the covenant made with Abraham came to life in the most unexpected way. The Son of God, born to a virgin, was laid in a manger. This wasn’t just any child. This was Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promise—the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

To understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ birth, we must consider the shepherds of Bethlehem. These weren’t ordinary shepherds tending ordinary sheep. Historical and theological insights suggest they cared for lambs destined for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem. When a lamb was born, it was wrapped snugly in strips of cloth and laid in a manger to keep it unblemished for its sacrificial purpose. Luke 2:7-12 describes how Mary wrapped Jesus in similar strips of cloth and placed Him in a manger. To the shepherds, this wasn’t a coincidence; it was a divine sign.

The angel’s proclamation to the shepherds was clear: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12, NLT). For those trained in the care of sacrificial lambs, the message was unmistakable. This child was the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, born to fulfill the covenant made with Abraham.

The connection between the manger and the cross is profound. For centuries, lambs were sacrificed daily in the temple to atone for the sins of the people. This practice was rooted in the covenant God made with Abraham and later reaffirmed through the laws given to Moses. But these sacrifices were temporary, a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice to come.

Jesus’ life and death fulfilled the covenant in ways no human ever could. On the night of His arrest, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. He took the bread and the wine, symbols of the covenant, and transformed their meaning. “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” (Matthew 26:26-28, NLT).

The next day, Jesus was crucified, His blood shed as the final and complete sacrifice. In that moment, every promise God had made to Abraham was fulfilled. The covenant was sealed, not with the blood of animals, but with the precious blood of Christ, the sinless Lamb of God.

The message from the manger is a message of grace and sacrifice. It’s a reminder that God’s love for humanity is so vast that He was willing to bear the cost of our failures. The blood path Abraham feared to walk, God walked twice—once for Himself and once for us.

This Christmas, as we reflect on the nativity scene, let us see beyond the baby in the manger. Let us see the Lamb of God, whose birth pointed directly to the cross. Let us remember that His sacrifice wasn’t just for the people of Abraham’s time but for all humanity, including you and me.

Peter reminds us of this with this life-changing truth: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT).

The message of sacrifice invites a response. God has upheld His part of the covenant and provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him. Our response is to accept this gift of grace, surrender our hearts, and live in the light of His love.

As you celebrate Christmas this year, take a moment to reflect on the cost of God’s love. Remember the covenant He made, the sacrifice He gave, and the grace He offers. Let the message from the manger fill your heart with gratitude and inspire you to share His love with the world.

May the Lamb of God, born in a manger, bring peace, joy, and hope to your heart this season and always.