The following comes from my book, Amazing
Stories & Daily Devotionals.
In a maximum-security prison, a group of
convicted felons volunteered to act out the Christmas story for the other
prisoners. Nothing could be brought in from the outside. All the costumes and
props had to be made from what they could find inside the prison.
A mop was used for Mary’s hair. Cotton balls were glued to a ski mask and socks, so the prisoners could look like sheep. A cardboard box was turned into a manger.
Everything was falling into place and the prisoners were excited about the play, but they had a problem. They needed a baby Jesus. Of course, they couldn’t bring in a real baby, and they couldn’t bring in a baby doll from the outside. Someone suggested Mary could just hold a blanket with nothing inside, but everyone said that wouldn’t do. They were running out of ideas.
On the day of the performance, the prison chaplain came running to the group of actors and said, “I think I found something that you can use for baby Jesus.” Now the play would go on.
The Christmas story was portrayed beautifully and all the inmates were enjoying the performance. They came to the scene where the prisoner with the mop on his head playing Mary was about to reveal her baby. Mary picked up a blanket from the manger (the cardboard box) and carefully unwrapped it. Inside the blanket wasn’t a makeshift doll, or a crudely drawn picture of a baby. Inside was a cross that had been hanging in the chaplain’s office.
It was a performance none of the prisoners would ever forget. Jesus came from heaven to be born as a baby, so that one day He would die on the cross for our sins. He was born physically 2,000 years ago in a manger, but He wants to be born spiritually in your heart today. And that’s the complete Christmas story.
BIBLE STUDY: What does ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON mean?
RECEIVE THESE DEVOTIONALS FREE by EMAIL: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com NOTE: The subscription box will NOT usually appear on your smart phone, but it can be seen on your computer (or by opening the “desktop site” feature on your phone.) www.makinglifecount.net
