Luke 2

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, gives us specifics as to when and where this incredibly important event took place. The fact that Mary and Joseph her husband were forced to return to the place of their birth, is a part of history. The Scriptures foretold 700 years BC that the One who would come and destroy death, would be born in the town of Bethlehem:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity)" (Micah 5:2, Amplified Bible).

The Creator of the universe became one lowly human being, born in a feeding trough, wrapped in swaddling clothes. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "The oriental swaddling-clothes consist of a square of cloth and two or more bandages. The child is laid on the cloth diagonally and the corners are folded over the feet and body and under the head, the bandages then being tied so as to hold the cloth in position. This device forms the clothing of the child until it is about a year old, and its omission (Ezek 16.4) would be a token that the child had been abandoned."

So, it seems that Mary and Joseph knew what they were doing with their new baby. A 2002 study by the Washington University School of Medicine concluded, "Now we have scientific evidence to support the age-old belief that swaddled infants sleep better than unswaddled infants," Gerard said. "It helps babies stay asleep and so may help parents keep their babies sleeping in the safer back position."[1]

Still, there was no chance that Jesus could die as a babe. Ten times His enemies tried to kill Him before He was finally crucified, and when a number of those took place, the Scriptures say, "For it was not yet His time."

The cross of His destiny. He was (as the hymn writer says) "Born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] http://www.biblestudy101.org/definitions/swaddling.html