It is December. Luminaries lined our streets this weekend. Stars of all sizes shine in the night above our villages and farms. Colored lights and candles and cars topped with trees and long checkout lines and nativity scenes and Christmas secrets and old carols and full schedules … The Christmas season is suddenly upon us.

(And did you notice I even have snow on this page?)

Actually, season openers started weeks ago with holiday events, sales promotions, and the usual decorations. But here it is, December, the month we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Why are we celebrating? What difference does an event 2000 years ago make in our lives today? 

Redemption. Redemption. Redemption! That’s the difference that the Baby in a manger brings to our lives.

The Greek and Hebrew words for redeem both refer to a buying back, paying a ransom to remove from bondage. The word “Redeemer” is a title given to God, who rescues His people from bondage and reclaims them as His own.

The baby born that night — in a shelter for animals, to a young couple far from home, a mother who was pregnant though unwed and a father who undoubtedly had many questions and moments of uncertainty — that baby would be the ransom God would pay to reclaim you as His own child.

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.   (Isaiah 43:1)

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity–the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.  (1 Timothy 2:5-6a)

When we can do nothing to escape the bondage that holds us, when we are helpless to crawl out of the darkness ourselves, He comes to rescue us and claim us as His own.   

A baby’s cry in the night. He was born to pay the price for our freedom. I didn’t deserve it. You didn’t deserve it.

Wow. He must love us dearly.

Father, Remind us, “reclaim” us every day as Your children and bring us back to You.