Christmas from a Different Perspective

So Kevin Twit from Belmont RUF said something the other Tuesday night that really got me thinking. It wasn't as if I had never heard it before but I had never really caught onto the idea to really think about it until then.

We were singing Christmas songs and he mentioned how Christmas isn't just about Jesus' birth. For the Christian, Christmas is a celebration of what has happened, but also a celebration and anticipation of what is to come. When we sing songs about Christ coming... we mean both then and in the future.

It just gave me a fresh perspective on Christmas Hymns. We we sing "sleep in heavenly peace" or "joy to the world" was sing of the birth, but also the anticipation of the second coming. Perfect peace and joy hasn't yet been realized in this world. Without the savior, these things cannot be fully realized. The Christian does not find ultimate rest here on earth. When we sing about these things in Christmas songs, we sing of our hope.

This gives me so much more joy in the Christmas season. Sometimes I get tired with singing about the past. Don't get me wrong, Jesus coming is NOT something to get tired over... we owe everything to Christmas but the actual story just gets jaded year after year. Kind of cliche all of that stuff about shepherds and wise men...

But I'm not jaded about the second coming! Oh no, even with how blessed I feel right now... nothing would be better than getting to go home to where there are not more troubles or worries. Christmas is a reminder of that... Christ has come... he lived, died, and rose again for us.... and he is coming again! Now that is just too much for anyone to not love Christmas!

So idk it is kinda fun to think of Christmas songs with the second coming in mind....

This one is my favorite right now:
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.