The Crimson Thread of Christmas – Scaffolding

Greetings Dear Reader,

The family that migrates to Egypt becomes a nation.  They grow, prosper, and are enslaved in Egypt.  The Father has not forgotten his promise to Abraham.  He is prepared to begin the fulfillment of those promises.

The primary promise of the tapestry is the promise to make his family a blessing to everyone.  The intent is to weave that tapestry all the way to Bethlehem.  To get there he sets in place a celebration of the future. 

The Passover becomes the annual portent of the coming redemption.  The thread is woven into a thick cord here that will provide the border of our tapestry.  It is this annual feast that being with the exodus from Egypt that marks the reminder that all of the year revolves around redemption.

The year proceeds and culminates around the celebration of Passover for the children of Abraham.  Through this sacrifice and supper will come the supper and sacrifice that will be our redemption.  Through the Cedar wine flows the promise of a blessing for all nations. 

The crimson thread of Christmas is found in the growth of the family of Abraham into a nation.  Nationally they are to pause and celebrate the coming Messiah every year.  The realization of that Messiah begins in a manger in Bethlehem.   The exodus to Israel provides the needed nation that contains the needed Bethlehem.

The tapestry has a framework that will hold the remaining threads of our redemption story. The promise of God with us and among us has a beginning.  The Passover in Exodus is a key component of that beginning.  I must never forget in the midst of my celebrating that the incarnation’s purpose is death.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

I celebrate the child but know that my sin will crucify the man.  How can I not honor what he asks me to be as his follower.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel – Amy Grant

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

In ancient times did'st give the Law,

In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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