“The people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.” Exodus 12:34 (NIV)

“She gave birth to her Firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:7 (NIV)

“Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, [of Jesus] wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” Mark 15:46 (NIV)

Dear Father, 

We are in awe. How could a picture of Christmas be in the book of Exodus? Yet there it is, right where it should be. You placed pictures of Your Son doing what He came to do in Your Family Album. You wanted us to recognize the One Who came, marked from the beginning, as the sacrifice Who ransoms us out of our Egypt, our tomb of self. He was the Bread of Heaven Who shouldered our sin on the tree. He was the One laid in a borrowed bed and borrowed tomb because You sent Him not to set up His Kingdom but to save a people for His Kingdom! 

His first steps, His words, His wisdom, His miracles, His love, His tears, His sacrifice, His interactions with the least of us— all are pictured for us before they happen, then revealed as they occur. But let there be other pictures, too. May Jesus treasure pictures of us living the life He came to give us. Let there be countless moments, captured for all time, of the Children of God following the Lamb of God Who takes away the hurt of the world.  This is the only kind of Kingdom He ever wanted. This I’ve got to see. 

In Jesus Name Forever