A profusion of gifts stacked neatly under a green tree is one of the visions of Christmas. To young and old alike the fancy wrappings keep the real gifts hidden from the eyes of the would-be-beholders. If only the gifts could jump forth from the wrappings they would be free for us to enjoy! However that burst of freedom must wait until the signal is given; whether it be on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day morning. Then they are unwrapped, unbound, set loose. And what a grand time it is when that which is hidden become manifest!

Mankind lives too often under wraps. The paper that binds us is neither fancy nor colorful. And it seems as though we are as helpless to break out of the wrappings as those Christmas presents. There is an account of the raising of Lazarus which demonstrates the power o…