The truth will set you free!

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”John 8. 31-32

Before we go head on into all the nativity scriptures, our daily office readings dabble in stories about some of Jesus' most poignant words as well as the dreams of John of Patmos as told in the book of Revelation. They are a sharp contrast to the babe in the manger and an extraordinary foreshadow of what to expect from this little tiny child.

In the passage above, after Jesus confronted the men about the way they are treating the woman who committed adultery, he speaks to his disciples about truth and true freedom, even freedom from death. Then from the book of Revelation, we hear about the victory of Christ over the powers of darkness, the ultimate freedom of truth.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. Revelation 20. 1 - 3

How do these passages prepare you to make a place for the Christ Child? What truth gives you freedom and how will you continue in the word of God being a true disciple? Is it easier to be truthful with this little tiny child than with an adult? Let us take the babe Jesus in our arms this Christmas and hold him close and tell him the truth and be free.

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child

Bye bye, lully, lullay

O sisters too, how may we do

For to preserve this day

This poor youngling for whom we do sing

"Bye bye, lully, lullay?"

Herod the king, in his raging

Chargèd he hath this day

His men of might in his own sight

All young children to slay

That woe is me, poor child, for thee

And ever mourn and may

For thy parting neither say nor sing

"Bye bye, lully, lullay."

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child

Bye bye, lully, lullay