Luke 2:12 - This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
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What does "Luke 2:12" mean?
This verse from Luke 2:12 is a key part of the angel's message to the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. Let's break down what it means:
"This is the sign to you..." This indicates that the angel is providing specific, identifiable details that will allow the shepherds to confirm the truth of the message they are receiving. It's not just a feeling or a general statement, but a concrete set of clues.
"...you will find a baby..." This establishes the nature of what they are looking for: a newborn infant. This contrasts with expecting a king in royal robes or a powerful leader.
"...wrapped in strips of cloth..." The Greek word used here is "σπαργανόω" (sparganoo), which refers to the common practice of swaddling. Swaddling involved wrapping a newborn tightly in strips of cloth. While common, the specific way and the context would become part of the specific sign.
"...lying in a feeding trough." The Greek word used here is "φάτνην" (phatnen), which translated to a "manger" or feeding trough, an open box or container from which animals (like cattle or donkeys) ate. This is perhaps the most surprising and significant detail. Kings weren't born in stables, much less laid in animal feeding troughs.
Overall Meaning and Significance:
The sign given to the shepherds is a paradoxical one:
Humility and Lowliness: The sign points to a baby, not a king or ruler in power. He's found in a humble, unlikely place (a feeding trough in a stable) surrounded by common swaddling clothes. It emphasizes the poverty and simplicity of Jesus' birth. The savior of the world is born among animals, not in a palace.
Accessibility and Universality: The shepherds were common, working-class people. The sign is something accessible to them. They are not required to perform an elaborate ritual or travel far to find the Messiah; he's near them, and the sign is something they can easily verify.
A Challenge to Expectations: The sign challenges the common expectations of what a savior or Messiah would be like. Instead of power and glory, there is vulnerability and humility. This sets the stage for understanding Jesus' ministry, which emphasized serving others and identifying with the marginalized.
Divine Confirmation: The specific and unlikely nature of the sign makes it even more powerful. It would be a difficult thing to fake, so if the shepherds found the baby as described, it would confirm the truth of the angel's message. It assures them that God is truly working in this event.
In essence, the sign of the baby in the manger is a symbol of God's love for humanity, expressed through humility, accessibility, and a challenge to worldly expectations.
Luke 2:12 - This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
What does "Luke 2:12" mean?
This verse from Luke 2:12 is a key part of the angel's message to the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. Let's break down what it means:
"This is the sign to you..." This indicates that the angel is providing specific, identifiable details that will allow the shepherds to confirm the truth of the message they are receiving. It's not just a feeling or a general statement, but a concrete set of clues.
"...you will find a baby..." This establishes the nature of what they are looking for: a newborn infant. This contrasts with expecting a king in royal robes or a powerful leader.
"...wrapped in strips of cloth..." The Greek word used here is "σπαργανόω" (sparganoo), which refers to the common practice of swaddling. Swaddling involved wrapping a newborn tightly in strips of cloth. While common, the specific way and the context would become part of the specific sign.
"...lying in a feeding trough." The Greek word used here is "φάτνην" (phatnen), which translated to a "manger" or feeding trough, an open box or container from which animals (like cattle or donkeys) ate. This is perhaps the most surprising and significant detail. Kings weren't born in stables, much less laid in animal feeding troughs.
Overall Meaning and Significance:
The sign given to the shepherds is a paradoxical one:
Humility and Lowliness: The sign points to a baby, not a king or ruler in power. He's found in a humble, unlikely place (a feeding trough in a stable) surrounded by common swaddling clothes. It emphasizes the poverty and simplicity of Jesus' birth. The savior of the world is born among animals, not in a palace.
Accessibility and Universality: The shepherds were common, working-class people. The sign is something accessible to them. They are not required to perform an elaborate ritual or travel far to find the Messiah; he's near them, and the sign is something they can easily verify.
A Challenge to Expectations: The sign challenges the common expectations of what a savior or Messiah would be like. Instead of power and glory, there is vulnerability and humility. This sets the stage for understanding Jesus' ministry, which emphasized serving others and identifying with the marginalized.
Divine Confirmation: The specific and unlikely nature of the sign makes it even more powerful. It would be a difficult thing to fake, so if the shepherds found the baby as described, it would confirm the truth of the angel's message. It assures them that God is truly working in this event.
In essence, the sign of the baby in the manger is a symbol of God's love for humanity, expressed through humility, accessibility, and a challenge to worldly expectations.