Covering of Christmas

Seems just about everyone gets some new clothes for Christmas.  Growing up seems like I always got socks for Christmas.  This year, I got a cool new shirt from my sister in laws and new running shoes from my kids. 

I love the Christmas season.  It’s colder and we get to warm ourselves by a fire and sleep and snuggle up with blankets. 

Even when we think about Christmas, the origins of the holiday, the real date of Christmas, the love the idea of Christmas in winter, and the idea of a White Christmas (have you watched that movie yet this Christmas?) Even the idea of “Snow” is a beautiful reminder of God’ covering for us

Seems like because of the cold weather, and many parties to attend.  Everyone seems to dress up more around the Christmas season.

There is a great old story about a king and his fascination with clothes The Emperor's New Clothes - by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) Not the emperor’s new groove although a funny movie.  A picture of thinking that we have got it together, we have all we need, when in fact we are naked!  And the truth comes from and is only seen as a child (Jars of Clay tune “Faith Like A Child”).  Maybe that’s why Christmas is such a great time for children.  Maybe that’s why we are to come to Christ with faith like a child.  Maybe that’s why Christ came as a child.  As I think about the child and clothes it reminded me about God’s covering for me


As you look throughout the Bible about God’s covering for us you find that it came from blood sacrifices, even the Passover, and was made complete once and for all in Jesus dying on the cross for us.

·         Salvation

·         Entrance to the presence of royalty

·         Safety (warmth, protection, hiding)

·         Armor

·         Healing

·         Authority (status, mantle, royalty, acceptance, honor)

·         Remembrance (Jews wore/wear tassles to remind them of the commandments)

This covering comes from a bible word “atonement” which is the central theme of the bible.  The Hebrew word used for "atonement" is kaphar.  Which basically means "to cover."  It is the word for the pitch that Noah used to cover the Ark.  http://www.inchristalone.org/ClothedChrist.htm

From all God’s covering for us it is a sad picture that the best we could come up for a covering of Him coming to us was swaddling clothes… however that’s the picture painted through history.  Adam and Eve the best they could come up with was a fig leaf.  The Bible paints the picture of us is one of “filthy rags”  from Joshua the high priest, to the women who wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, and a wayward  son returning home in the Prodigal Son. 

In closing the last verse from the great hymn, “The Solid Rock”, William B. Bradbury,  1863.

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne.