Everyone was feeling the tension during a crucial moment of filming the 2000 movie Reindeer Games. Light was fading fast, and the director was ready to snap. The actors and crew had one last chance at filming a scene. The scene involved a few actors scaling a snow-covered ladder, including Danny Trejo and his coactor/friend Donal Logue. But just moments before “action,” Donal slipped. He lost his balance and his grip on the ladder, a fall that would have ruined the shot, ended the day, and damaged his career. 

But Danny Trejo saved him. In the nanosecond of that moment, Trejo reached out one arm, snatched Donal by the scruff of his coat, and held all 200 pounds of him in midair! With one arm! Before the director noticed Donal’s fall, Trejo gently set his friend back on the ladder and whispered, “I told you I had your back.”

Isn’t that just like you and Jesus? When you slip and sin and are helplessly falling from God, Jesus reaches out with his mighty right hand. The only Savior who has the power to rescue you also has the love to want to, even if your sin was more intentional than Donal’s slip. 

Christmas is a stunning message. It teaches us that the God of power came down to express his love. The Lord of all creation came down to save you. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you” (Luke 2:10,11).