Counting the Days: December 16, 2025

A Gift, Wrapped

Margot Runion
Assistant Director, Financial Aid

Read: Luke 2:12

“A stable once had something in it bigger than the whole world.”
– C.S. Lewis (AD 1898 – AD 1963)

Over two thousand years ago God choose to announce the birth of Jesus to the most common of men. It was not announced to a king or even the middle class. It was first announced to people on the lowest rung of society at that time. This gospel is for the entire world from the lowest to the highest.

The shepherds were told to go find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths. At that time, all babies would have been swaddled. The difference would be that this baby was lying in a manger.

I have frequently thought, What I would have done if the heavens opened and angels told me to go look for a baby that was the Messiah? My first thought is fear. Thank goodness that the shepherds did as they were told. Not only did they go to look for this baby, but we have a record that they did indeed find the baby and they worshipped him.

Luke is the only gospel that mentions the swaddling cloths, and he mentions it twice. First to call attention to the fact that God showed the same helplessness that we all show at birth. And second, to cast our eyes ahead to some thirty years later when Jesus would again be wrapped in cloths at his death — a death that would save the entire world from their sins.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year let’s all remember that first Christmas over two thousand years ago. It truly was the best Christmas ever.

Prayer: Lord, as we remember the humility of Christ’s birth, open our hearts to receive the same wonder and grace the shepherds witnessed that holy night. May the swaddled Savior remind us that Your love reaches every person—low and high—and that in Him, we find hope, salvation, and peace. Amen.