Redemption Draws Nigh

The Christmas Story, as the fulfillment of thousands of year's of prophecy, is of course centrally about Jesus. Indeed, all of Scripture points to God's redemptive plan of salvation through the shed blood of his Son.

During this time of year we talk of Jesus's birth and of all the cast of characters that surround this momentous event. The Scriptures tell us much about Mary and the Shepherds and the Magi and the Heavenly Host and we even feel we know the innkeeper and the animals in the stable.

As a father I'm drawn to the man Joseph, Jesus's earthly father. We're not told a whole lot about Joseph. We know from Matthew Chapter 1 that he was "a just man" and that he dutifully listens to the angel's instructions not to put Mary away but to instead continue on to take her as his wife. In Matthew 2 we see he leads his family well from Bethlehem to Egypt and then finally to the region of Galilee as God protects Jesus from King Herod and lays the groundwork for his earthly ministry.

We can only speculate how Joseph felt about being Jesus's earthly father. Raising Jesus well, despite his possession of deity, must have been both an overwhelming responsibility and tremendous privilege.

The Christian artist Todd Agnew wrote and performs a song called "This is All I Have to Give." It's a song that explores what Joseph might have been thinking and feeling as he raised the God-Man Jesus. It contemplates Joseph's earthly stewardship of the humanity of the Messiah. Although not Inspired, it is a great song that captures the heart of a father. My favorite line: What can I offer you, my son, when you're the living breathing proof, of everything I hoped could possibly be true? 

If you are a father, or just know a father, I think you'll enjoy this song. I hope you especially enjoy how it seeks to point you to the Son. Finally, here's hoping that in Jesus Christ you find the manifestation of everything you thought could possibly be true.

Merry Christmas!

Follow this link to hear Todd Angew's "This is All I Have to Give" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12PnyIr1aYM