Have you ever listened to a song thousands of times and never really tuned in, but in a particular season listened to the same song and saw it as fresh revelation? Well, during this past Christmas season, that exact thing happened to me. I was listening to “Rescue” by Ellie Holcomb. I’ve listened to this song too many times to count. I’ve always loved it, and thought of its general message as God rescues us wherever we are. But this particular day, the lyrics came to me in a whole new way. The chorus echoes, “I need a rescue, I need a reckoning, from all the things I’ve done and have been done to me”.

I suddenly began to hear the words for what they were, a cry from a broken person for a perfect Savior. As the chorus repeated over and over, I was reminded of the sin in our world and the immense need we’ve had from the beginning, for a reckoning of that sin—for justice to be met in the graceful, redemptive way of Jesus. Purely reflecting on the depravity of the world can create stress and anxiety, but when we are reminded of the ultimate gift we’ve been given in Christ, we have hope.

“. . . I was reminded of the sin in our world and the immense need we’ve had from the beginning, for a reckoning of that sin—for justice to be met in the graceful, redemptive way of Jesus.”

As I thought about the present season, I began to realize that a “rescue” is exactly what Jesus is for us, and further what Christmas represents, well after the celebration of Christmas has ended. From the beginning of time, prophets foretold of Jesus’ birth. He would come to reconcile the relationship between God and Man and justice would be served. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. (Isaiah 9:6)

Ellie continues to sing, “I need revival, I need recovery, I need to know that there’s an answer for what’s missing.” As we bask in the wonderful promise of hope through justice, let us proclaim this truth: Jesus is our rescue, our reckoning, our revival, and our recovery! He is the missing piece that came long ago, on that dark evening to save us and clothe us in righteousness.

“As we bask in the wonderful promise of hope through justice, let us proclaim this truth: Jesus is our rescue, our reckoning, our revival, and our recovery!”

A perfect and spotless baby came and carried the sins of the entire world on His shoulders. And for decades to come, we will continue to celebrate His arrival during Christmas—but after presents are opened, trees are taken down, family from far away have come and gone, we should hold tightly to the true reason for the celebration of the season and our hope that is true today: Jesus, perfect and spotless came into our aching world to be the rescue, the Savior that we so desperately longed for.