When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

In the book, Le Miserables, there is a factory worker named Fantine. She is a single mom, but no one knows this, or she would be shunned. So she left her daughter with innkeeper caretakers who were very evil. She would send almost all of her money back for the care of her daughter, as the caretakers lied and extorted her. One day, she was found out. The plant manager fired her for having a child, and she thought the only way to make the money she needed was in prostitution. The prostitution wore on her body and spirit. She even had to sell her two front teeth for money to send for the “care” of her daughter. One day, a man, making fun of her, threw snow down her dress, and she snapped and attacked this mean man. She was arrested for attacking an “upstanding citizen” and landowner.

Mayor Jean Valjean, who also owned the manufacturing plant she and hundreds of other townsfolk were employed at, and the place she was fired from, saw what happened in the street with the snow.

He came to the woman’s defense, though the woman, at this time, hated him, blaming him for her firing from the plant and her other problems. He served her anyway and stood up to the police chief, demanding her release. He found out about her child, Cosette, and rescued her from the oppressive innkeepers. And though Fantine died shortly thereafter, he cared for her daughter as his own child. This sacrifice involved public humiliation, the loss of his business, the revealing of his identity which he had kept hidden and would have meant jail time for a made-up crime. And it meant a life on the run to save and provide for Cosette.

This picture of redemption for both Fantine at the end of her life and of Cosette from the evil innkeepers to a life protected is a good one. Though not as powerful as the rescue effort God made for us. He sent his only Son, Jesus, to be born a lowly, poor human. He gave up his power and position to serve us. And then he endured hardship, torture, and intense pain to save those who hurt him.

He arose victorious in his resurrection over the forces of evil and the sin in our hearts. When we choose to receive his salvation, we choose a new, reborn life, full of freedom from oppression and sin, power to live beyond ourselves in love and kindness, and strength to endure any hardship with grace and joy.

Lord, thank you for your incredible salvation work. You came and gave up all to die for my sin, enduring shame, ridicule, torture, and the cross. And you rose victorious over the enemies I face today. All fear, worry, anxiety, and shame is conquered in your name, Jesus. A thousand times, THANK YOU!