Holidays

Angels, from the Realms of Glory

/ Gail Johnson / 1 Comment

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isaiah 11:1

I enjoy the Christmas play. The excitement. The last minute costume changes. The music. The hushed wonder. The laughter and the tears. For who can watch a reenactment of the Christ child and not remember the reason why He came?

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. Isaiah 11:2-5

History
Words- 1816 James Montgomery
Music- 1867 Henry T. Smart

Favorite line
Gather all the nations to Him; ev’ry knee shall then bow down.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

/ Gail Johnson / 1 Comment

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Without a kinsman redeemer. Lost. Without hope. No way out. Until the cry of a newborn proclaimed Deliverance. Salvation has come! The cries for redemption became shouts of exaltation.

The angels proclaimed the wondrous news. The shepherds came to see. Kings laid gifts at His feet. Simeon gave thanks. And Anna declared Him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. The Consolation of Israel… the world.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a prayer for redemption. Yet the chorus is a declaration of God’s faithfulness. He will not leave us in our troubles, but in His time, He shall bring us out. Tis the reason to rejoice!

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:4-7

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

History:
Translator John Mason Neale (1851)
Tune VENI EMMANUEL (Chant)

Favorite line:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Silent Night

/ Gail Johnson / 1 Comment

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Wall to wall people. The city crowded with both man and beast. No room available for weary travelers until…

A stable, a stall, and a manger. Nestled away from the crowd and endless noise, Heaven and Earth met. Perfect love was born. Immanuel—God with us.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

History:

The lyrics were written by Joseph Mohr and the melody by Franz Xaver Gruber. The song made its debut on Christmas Eve 1818.