And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him
in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for
them in the inn.
What
is your favorite Christmas smell? Is it pine or peppermint? Gingerbread or
vanilla? Or is it too hard to choose? As for me, I might select the heavenly
scent of a freshly baked Butter Braid. Do you know what I’m talking about?
Butter
Braid is the brand name for a Danish style hand-braided pastry filled with a
variety of delectable fillings. Cream cheese is my family’s favorite. It’s our
tradition to serve a Butter Braid for Christmas breakfast. Since it’s a yeasted
product, sold frozen, I have to remember to take it out on Christmas Eve, place
it in a pan and cover it. It will rise overnight. In the morning I am always
amazed at how it has doubled in size. I place it in the oven to bake and enjoy
the aroma as it wafts throughout the house. Before we partake, we insert a
candle into the pastry, light it and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.
We
all have our own traditions of Christmas, our favorite smells, tastes, sights,
and sounds. We celebrate in different ways and find meaning in the various
symbols of the season.
The
braided pastry is a type of symbol to me. It reminds me of overlapping swaddling
cloths. In Jesus’ time, mothers used narrow strips of cloth to tightly wrap
their babies. Most of us know from Scripture that Mary brought forth her firstborn
Son (Jesus), and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths (Luke
2:7). But did you know that swaddling cloths were also used by the
Levitical shepherds to wrap newborn sheep to keep them pure as they were to be
used as sacrificial lambs? According to Hebrew law, these lambs had to be spotless
and without blemish. When a mother ewe was about to give birth, the shepherd would
take her to a designated cave, which was sterile and clean. The newborn lamb
was immediately wrapped in swaddling cloths to protect it and keep it from
blemish (South
Platte Sentinel).
In
Luke 2, we read the story of Jesus’ birth, which explains that Joseph and Mary
had to travel to Bethlehem to register for a census. With so many people in
town for the same reason, there was no room for them in the inn. Scripture does
not tell us exactly where the couple stayed, but we can deduce that they stayed
where animals were normally kept, as the Bible says, she laid Him in a manger, which
is a feeding trough.
Shepherds
were in the fields keeping watch over their flock when the angel of the Lord
appeared to them and said, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this
day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the
sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a
manger” (Luke
2:10-12).
The
shepherds didn’t need to ask for specifics. They knew where to find a manger
and went in haste to Bethlehem. There they found Mary and Joseph and the Babe
lying in a manger (Luke
2:16-17), in a place reserved for the birth of sacrificial lambs.
Christmas
is also an Easter story. Jesus was born to die to save us from our sins. This
Christmas Eve as I cover the Butter Braid and lay it out to rise overnight, I
will remember Jesus, our Sacrificial Lamb, who died, was covered and laid in a
tomb and days later rose overnight.
As
I savor my first bite of Butter Braid on Christmas morning, I will remember
that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the bread that comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world (John
6:25-59).
I
pray that you too will find meaning in the symbols of Christmas. And may all
your traditions point to the reason for the season.
And
by the way, did you know that Bethlehem means “house of bread?”
Jesus, You are our
Sacrificial Lamb, our Lord and Savior, and our Bread of Life. This Christmas I
celebrate You. May I find You in all my traditions and savor Your presence with
all my senses. Amen.
