Hail the Son of Righteousness!

God's act of salvation in delivering the Hebrews out of their bondage to Pharaoh is Scripture's greatest prefiguration of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.

When delivering the call to Moses on Mt. Horeb, God tells him, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:7-8a; ESV).

That good and broad land was Canaan, of course. But the land given to God's people was also a sign of an even greater promise to come. For the oppression of Pharaoh reflects the greater oppression of sin, brokenness, and alienation that afflicts all of creation - and particularly those creatures made in God's own image. And the compassion with which God heard his people's cries in Egypt was not exhausted in the exodus.

The word of the Lord -

     "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."

 - Hebrews 1:1-3a (ESV)

That Son has come, even Jesus Christ the Lord! And the redemption he is bringing is a redemption for all of creation. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet --

"For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth in singing, 
and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands. 
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off"

                                (Isaiah 55:12-13; ESV)

So come, everyone who thirsts. Come to these waters.

For with them you will find the spring of the water of life.

Christ the Savior is born

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

- Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

How's this for a stocking stuffer?

In a move that almost defies belief, Planned Parenthood of Indiana is advertising in bold print on their website that they are offering gift certificates for the holiday season.

That's right, you can get your friend or loved one an abortion for Christmas.

WISH-TV 8 out of Indianapolis reports the organization's offer in this news story. An official with Planned Parenthood indicates that the gift certificates are for "preventative healthcare," which, of course, includes abortions. "We decided not to put restrictions on the gift certificates," the same official said. "So it's for whatever people feel they need the services for most."

There is a certain bitter irony here. Right at the time we are preparing to celebrate the coming of the Christ child into the world, Planned Parenthood is helping to make sure that lots of other children won't be coming at all.

Pater, dimitte illis non enim sciunt quid faciunt.

Merry Christmas to all

Eternal God,
by the birth of Jesus Christ you gave yourself to the world.
Grant that, being born in our hearts,
he may save us from all our sins,
and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator,
to whom be everlasting praise and glory,
world without end. Amen.

(from the United Methodist Hymnal, 231)