At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them (Luke 2:1-7 NLT).
How would you expect the Creator of the Universe to be clothed if and when entering this world?
Would you expect the first garment to be a robe of rags?
These were exchanged in later years for a single robe–a seamless one. But that was stripped from him.
A jail suit– stripes and all–can you see your Lord in it? But he didn’t even get that…
He was stripped naked and publicly exposed.
For God’s sake (literally)–please understand–this is the essence of the incarnation:
Not merely a baby cooing,
But a naked man dying.
It’s not a comfortable picture.
It’s enough to break your heart–
Enough to break it open?
Heart and Mind 