On November 27, 2013 President Obama granted a pardon to Popcorn the turkey. Instead of being Thanksgiving dinner, Popcorn now lives at the Mount Vernon Estate.


The Israelites needed a pardon. Just eight months after promising to obey God perfectly (Exodus 19:8) they failed miserably (Exodus 32:1). According to the terms of the covenant, they no longer had any right to receive God’s blessing (32:5-6). Before we point our fingers at the people of Israel, we need to look at our own hearts. Like Israel, we are called to love God wholeheartedly and to love others selflessly, yet we find ourselves doing just the opposite. We deserve to be cut off from God. We need a pardon!


On November 28, the Obama family ate turkey for dinner; another turkey died in Popcorn’s place. In love, God sent His Son to absorb the punishment we all deserve: death, separation from God Himself. Jesus was counted among the wicked so the wicked could be counted among the pardoned and receive new life – life much better than Popcorn’s!