December
16

“And Laid Him in a Manger”

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This enrolling first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was out of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed wife, being great with child. And it came to pass, that while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should bring forth; and she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling‐clothes, and laid Him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1‒7)

The signification of “conceiving and bearing,” in the internal sense is to be regenerated; for the man who is being regenerated is conceived and born anew, wherefore regeneration is called a new birth, but spiritual. Man is indeed born of his parents as a man, but he does not become a man until he is reborn of the Lord. (Arcana Coelestia 3860)

Every man is only “flesh;” but when the life of charity and faith is breathed into him by the Lord, the flesh is made alive, and becomes spiritual and celestial, and is called a “new creature” (Mark 16:15), from having been created anew. (Arcana Coelestia 780)

Just as man receives from the Lord a new life, so he receives the human form and, at length, a very beautiful angelic form, which is the likeness of the Lord. Thus it is as if He had created man anew, in similar fashion and in like manner. Hence it is that to create is to regenerate, and that a regenerated man is a new creature. (Spiritual Experiences 4837)

previous		next