Ten more days until Christmas!!
When was the last time you read the Christmas story from Luke’s perspective?
Well…
Here it is…
Luke 2  English Standard Version (ESV)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
²¹ And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
There are two fascinating verbs describing Jesus which are both used twice.
Let me give you a minute to find them.
 
 
 
 
 
Found them?
Here they are:
1. wrapped
2. lying/laid (same root verb)
Here they are in context:

1. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger…
2. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger…

Here’s the Thursday Thought for the Day in relation to this amazing, insightful, clever, and mind blowing observation:
Wrapped presents don’t move, they just lie there…
A wrapped Jesus won’t move either. He will just lie there as well.
But…
But, what happens if you unwrap Jesus?
Get ready to move!
Jesus is on the move to shake and bake, bless the distressed, comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!
Maybe that’s why so many people leave Jesus securely wrapped… under the tree…away in a manger…where He cannot move… where He will just lie there and look adorable…from afar…
Jesus…
Wrapped or Unwrapped?
Ball is in your court…
Grace and peace,
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!