Christmas and Freedom

Christmas is an observance that stretches all the way from commercial sales appeal to devoted family and church gatherings focused on the newborn King. However, the babe in a manger is but a warm sentiment when the world really needs a delivering Savior.

This season, I have received a number of letters and cards from prisoners who hear our radio broadcast and respond in gratitude.

One came from a prisoner in Trenton who referenced our broadcast about Mark David Chapman on the 30th anniversary of his murder of John Lennon. The prisoner wrote to thank us for our radio program and said he looks forward to hearing it. He also mentioned us helping to get the Gospel to every prison in America by aiding in the distribution of Chapman’s conversion story, and said that he would gladly pass it along to other inmates.

Earlier this week, a personal Christmas card came from Mark Chapman at Attica. He reported that “Project Chaplain” is going well with over 100 responses and counting, and he thanked us for our prayers. Some time ago, Mark personally shared with me his desire to place the story of redemption in all 4,000 U.S. prisons. That leaves only 3,500 to go!

Throughout history, people have been trapped in prisons other than actual incarceration. To those in prison or out, Christ announced his ministry purpose when he visited his hometown of Nazareth and read in the Temple, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

The old hymn of Charles Wesley, who also wrote “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” speaks of this.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

Two rarely sung verses read,

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

Many in Jesus’ day were prisoners other than those who were physically constrained.

Shepherds had been locked into a dismal and harsh life in open fields tending flocks that some believe were destined for the endlessly repetitive Temple sacrifices. The “herald angels” released them from the drab winter routine and sent them from the manger with excited testimony.

Wise men from the East were trapped in grinding idolatrous paganism. The release from onerous fears and frustrations were worth the difficult overland trek across the desert miles.

Mary and Joseph, and all Israel, and you and I are released from personal guilt here and judgement and Hell in the hereafter. “He shall save His people from their sins,” as Joseph heard the angel say (Matthew 1:21).

Not everyone accepted the announced freedom. King Herod, while craftily using the Wise Men as an ancient GPS, never left his personal prison of pride, greed and spiritual rebellion. Haunted by multiple threats to his power and killing scores of feared competitors, Herod died a lonely man. His body was entombed in one of his opulent palaces near Bethlehem where the King of Kings was born. In recent years, his burial spot in the Herodium, as the cone shaped palace foundation is called, has been located. It is a monumental contradiction to the manger not far away.

Eventually, every believer enjoys release from any and all mortal prisons, even those of time and space. Years ago, I sat with confessed multiple murderer David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam. I asked David when he would get out of prison, and he simply said, “At the Rapture.” That’s when all God’s reborn children are freed. All of earth’s prisons are abandoned either at the believer’s death or the return of Christ.

Wesley had it right. “He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.”

Here’s wishing you a wonderful Christmas in “the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free…” (Galatians 5:1).

Dave Virkler