C. There Are Those Who Have A Comforting Involvement In These Events. In the time following the birth of Jesus, when the angel of the Lord interrupted the stillness and silence of night, the Bible says that the shepherds "were sore afraid" (Luke 2:9). But then we're informed of the comforting words of this celestial being who said, "Fear not" (Luke 2:10). What a comfort to know that a Saviour is born (as we read in Luke 2:11), that He has come forth from the womb! Likewise, in the days following the death of Jesus, We again find an angel making a comforting announcement to some very frightened people. We might even say that these women were "sore afraid" as they saw this whitely robed young man. But "he saith unto them, Be not affrighted" (Mark 16:6). In other words, "Fear not." What a comfort to know that "He is risen" (Mark 16:6), that He had come forth from the tomb!

III. Let's Consider The Particulars Involved In His Birth And In His Death

The French novelist Gustave Flaubert said, "God is in the details." I do not dispute this. In fact, as we continue to observe these striking comparisons between the birth and death of the Lord Jesus, the more I am convinced that there was Divine design in all of these details. It seems increasingly clear that the Blessed Babe of Bethlehem was meant to be the Crucified Christ of Calvary. It seems increasingly certain that this same Jesus was born to die. Let's look at some particular aspects that bear this out.

A. Notice The Particular Clothes In These Two Situations. The Bible tells us in Luke 2:7 that Mary "brought forth her firstborn son," and perhaps Joseph assisted by wrapping the baby "in swaddling clothes." In his book on Bible manners and customs, James Freeman describes the swaddling process. He writes, "They tightly wrapped His body and limbs in these broad strips of common cloth to protect the baby's weak limbs. Miss Rogers, an English lady (who had traveled extensively in Palestine), describes the appearance of an infant thus bandaged: ‘The infant I held in my arms was so bound in swaddling-clothes that it was perfectly firm and solid, and looked like a mummy'." In the same fashion, after his death, Joseph of Arimathaea "bought fine linen, and took (Jesus) down, and wrapped Him in the linen." No doubt, the body was so wrapped "that it was perfectly firm and solid, and looked like a mummy."

B. Notice The Particular Cots In These Two Situations. At the time of His birth, Jesus was laid in a crib. And I use the term "crib" in both senses of the word - both a baby's bed and a feeding trough. We see Him laid in this "manger" (Luke 2:7), which was thought by some to be a hewn-out or hollowed-out piece of rock. James Freeman indicated that archaeologists discovered mangers in the region that were "cut out of limestone and were approximately three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and two feet deep." Just as He was laid in a hollowed out stone crib after His birth, He was laid in a hollowed out stone crypt after His death. For the Bible tells us in Mark 15:46 that Joseph of Arimathaea "laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock." And in all likelihood, the stone slab inside this hollowed out rock also had a length twice the measure of the width. My dear friend, all of these comparisons cannot be mere coincidence. I say again that it points us to the fact that He was born to die!

C. Notice The Particular Contrast In These Two Situations. As intriguing as the comparisons are between His birth and His death, the truly inspiring element in all of this is seen in a point of contrast. After the birth of Christ, the angel came and said to the scared shepherds, "Fear not . . . Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12). Basically, they were told that if they looked in that hollowed out piece of rock, they would find the Saviour. But here's the critical and notable difference. Three days after the death of Christ, the angel came and said to the worried women, "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:5-6). Basically, they were told that if they looked in that hollowed out piece of rock, they would not find the Lord. Why? "For He is risen as He said!" Truly, He was born to die, but He died to live again, and now He is alive forevermore!

F. W. Farrar wrote, "As the east catches at sunset the colors of the west, so Bethlehem is a prelude to Calvary, and even the infant's cradle is tinged with a crimson reflection from the Redeemer's cross." Farrar wrote this specifically of the circumcision of Jesus, but as we have observed these numerous comparisons, we realize that it applies to so much more. As we celebrate Christmas again this year, if you only see the babe of Bethlehem, you've missed out. Jesus is not just a son in a manger. He's the Savior of mankind!

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David E. Owen is Pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church in Acworth, GA.