We are post-Christmas saints, so why do we sing Christmas hymns as if we are pre-Christmas saints? It seems a little odd for a group who already follows Jesus to sing, "O come, O come, Emmanuel" when he has already come.
An unintended consequence in a recent study of the book of Job is gaining deep insight into what it was like to be a pre-Christmas saint. Pre-Christmas saints knew of shadows and prophecies, doubts and waiting. A pre-Christmas saint wondered how to know God, what was in the holy of holies and, and what was behind the veil. They lived longing and hoping for the announcement that the promised one had come, so they sang…
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
But none of that applies to us, so why sing it?
Actually, our condition is very much like the condition of the pre-Christmas saints. While in his grace God has granted to us his full revelation in the written word and by his Son, we still long for more. We are already saved, but not yet saved. We possess eternal life, though we know death is coming. We are full of joy and yet sorrowful. We are confident in hope yet full of doubts. The life of the post-Christmas saint is both Joy the world, the Lord is come! and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
The longings of the pre-Christmas saint and the post-Christmas saint are the same. We want Jesus to come and right the wrongs, end the conflict, bind the Wicked One, overcome death, bring universal peace and finish the work he began. So we sing, “O Come, Thou Rod of Jesse” and “O Come, Thou Dayspring” and “O Come, Thou Key of David” and “O Come, Desire of Nations.”
As you gaze back on the Bethlehem scene, you are not only looking at the fulfillment of so many prophecies, you are gaining the confidence that as he came once filling with joy those who were sorrowful, he will come again and fill all who sorrow now with a greater joy (Acts 1:11).
This advent season sing passionately both expressions in the Christmas hymns. They convey the experience of the Christian life and will point you again to Jesus.
As always I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.
Mike VerWay
Pastor for Preaching & Vision