As Christmas Day comes to an end, I’m dwelling on the redemption provided by my Savior who entered the world as a tiny babe those many years ago.

If I had been in charge of the plan of redemption for humanity… for myself… my selfish, short-sighted humanity would have created a plan that involved escape more than redemption. I’d have chosen to escape the consequences of my sin, to escape the burdens of this world, to escape the pain and suffering that is a part of this fallen world we live in. I’d have avoided it all.

But God had so much more planned for me than escape. He planned for freedom.

I would have chosen to break out of the prison of sin and shame, escaping through some loophole, but not realizing that I would still be a fugitive to the sin, always looking behind, waiting to be caught again.

He wanted to give me freedom, to let me walk out of the prison that I was rightfully dwelling in. He wanted to give me hope for the future instead of fear of the past catching up. He wanted to destroy the chains instead of just picking the lock.

So instead of taking me out of the prison, He stepped in. Instead of pretending my sin never happened, He bore the penalty. Instead of letting me escape, He bought my freedom.

The baby in the manger, our freedom, has a name, and it’s Jesus.