What links these two in their commonality? I would like to bring to you the most amazing story known to the entire world, not like you have heard before, but according to facts hidden from translations. When we hear about the Birth of Christ story we think shepherds, star, manger, sheep, goats, donkeys, the three wise men, and their gifts. It is a story of light and angels singing; a story of hope of salvation. We understand that and we rejoice that our Savior has been born. “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). However, there are specific insights missing in this wonderful story hidden from us in the past, but now revealed. Thanks to those dedicated students of the Bible. These are specifics of great significance that confirms the divinity of our Savior, YAHSHUA, and His role as the Lamb of God. I have written about this before just in passing, but now I want to bring this story to you in its entirety and meaning. Perhaps you will never celebrate the birth of Christ the same way as before.
The book entitled The Life and Times of Jesus Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (1899) reveals that the Jewish belief and conviction were not only that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, but that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder- the Tower of Flock. This tower was not a watchtower for the ordinary flocks, which pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but these lay close to town, on the road to Jerusalem. They were destined for temple sacrifices and those shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds either. These watchtowers were like forts from where the shepherds would observe their flocks from the second floor. In the occasion of births, the shepherds would wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes for their protection, keeping them without blemish and then laid them in a manger.
The beauty of this story reflects the report of YAHSHUA’S birth, which we read in Luke 2: 6-12: And while they were there, the time came for their delivery, and she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn. And in that vicinity there were shepherds living in the field, watching over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terrible frightened. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. This language was familiar to those shepherds. But they did not associate the Messiah to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God for the sins of the world.
The truth of the matter was that our Savior was not revealed in a manger somewhere in an unknown location, devoid of the meaning that represented His role and purpose for His incarnation. No. He was to be revealed in that point of time as a baby in a specific location destined by God. His purpose was to be fulfilled in every detail in the life of His Son. Micah so prophesized: And you, O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem (Micah 4:8). The light of His presence in that place carried out the truth of Whom He was- The Lamb of God that was to take the sins of the world, when He was to lay down His life. At that moment when the shekinah glory has shown in the heavens, it shined the promise given to Adam and Eve at the time of their spiritual fall: And I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman and, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel (Gen. 3: 15). YAHSHUA’S coming was the beginning of the human race’s redemption. The lambs which were chosen for temple sacrifices were without defect, they were perfect. They had their beginning there at the Migdal Eder. The Son of God was received into the world in that place also. It was not a place where donkeys, goats and other farm animals roamed or stayed, as we have believed. This practice was observed many years before Messiah came. It foreshadowed where He was to be revealed in the space of many years to come. The shepherds followed specific regulations concerning these special flocks: They had to be within five miles of the temple; the male sheep was a burnt (sin) offering and the female was for a peace offering. Our Lord YAHSHUA took the position of a male lamb and was offered as a burnt sacrifice for our sins.
Light from the Word 