The Prisoner

                          A little food for weekend thought--

      Awoke this morning with the words to "Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus" whispering, humming in my thoughts: "Come thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.  Israel's hope and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart."
      Born to set us free from fears and sins.  Our hope and consolation.  The joy of every longing, suffering, waiting heart.  He is our Deliverer the second verse reminds us.  Born a child and yet a King.  The mystery of the incarnation.  Who can ever grasp the wonder of it?
      But as I contemplated this Deliverer born to set His people free, the words of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, came to mind, when he described a visit to a prison in Brazil.  Might his words remind us of the "inexpressible Gift" we have in Jesus this last weekend before Christmas:
      "Several years ago a Brazilian prison was turned over to two Christian laymen.  Their plan was to run it on Christian principles.  The prison has only two full-time staff.  The rest of the work is done by the inmates.  Every prisoner is assigned another inmate to whom he is accountable.  In addition, every prisoner is assigned a volunteer family from the outside who works with him during his term and after his release from prison.  Every prisoner joins the chapel program or else takes the course in character development.
      When I visited the prison I found the inmates smiling--particularly the murderer who held the keys and opened the gates to let me in.  Wherever I walked, I saw men at peace.  I saw clean living areas.  I saw people working industriously.  The walls were decorated with biblical sayings from Psalms and Proverbs.  The prison had an astonishing record.  The recidivism rate is 4 percent, compared to 75 percent in the rest of Brazil and the U.S.  How is that possible?  I saw it with my own eyes.  When my inmate guide escorted me to the notorious punishment cell once used for torture, he told me that today it houses only a single inmate.  We walked down a long cell block, a long corridor of steel doors, and came to the end and he peeked in.  He paused.  'Yes, he's in there' he said.  Then he turned to me and asked, 'Are you sure you want to go in, Mr. Colson?'
      'Of course,' I replied impatiently.  'I've been in punishment cells in 600 prisons all over the world.'  Slowly the inmate swung open the door and I saw the prisoner in the punishment cell.  I walked in and turned to the right and there on the wall, beautifully carved by the inmates, was a crucifix.  The prisoner Jesus was hanging on the cross.  'He,' said the inmate, 'is doing the time for all the rest of us.'"
      And so He is.  He came to the cradle to go to the cross, so we might be set free from our sins and fears and go with Him to heaven as His redeemed children.
      This weekend before Christmas, we rejoice in our Savior who came to set His people free.  Might we His people live to His glory and sing His praises this day and everyday.  Oh Lord Jesus, might You  "rule in our all our hearts alone."  You are infinitely worthy.
       Thank You for "doing the time for all the rest of us."
       To God be the glory.