Christmas Carols and the Gospel

Most people probably have a favorite carol. They were sung this Christmas season as they are every year. They are often a portal to Christmas memories and the feelings they evoke. But the words … do we really listen to what we are singing?

The prophet Isaiah predicted Jesus’ birth about 700 years before He was born. In Isaiah 7:14 it says “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (God with us).” The music celebrates His supernatural conception and His life, death and resurrection.

“Silent Night” is the best-known Christmas carol in the world. It has been translated into 300 languages. Written as poem in 1816 by Joseph Mohr, an Austrian priest, it has an emphasis on calmness and peace. This baby will grow up to be the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind. Jesus, born of a virgin, provides the promised peace to repentant sinners.

“Joy to the World” was written in 1719 by Isaac Watts. He was a Methodist minister who used Psalm 98 as his inspiration. The psalm says in part “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth burst into jubilant song with music …” It was never intended to be a Christmas song because it was written to celebrate His second coming, but it certainly seems to be a song that celebrates His birth too.

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” was written in 1867, inspired by Philadelphia Pastor Phillips Brooks’ visit to Bethlehem. The verses take one through the birth of Jesus then finish with the heartfelt “Cast out our sin and enter in / Be born in us today.”

Micah 5:2 predicts Bethlehem will be home to the king. “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the rulers of Judah, out of you will come for one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” was written by Charles Wesley and was included in the Methodist hymnal in 1739. His inspiration came from Luke 2: 13-14. It reviews the whole gospel from Jesus’ birth to confronting the powerful truth of who Jesus is and what He came to do: “Born that man no more may die / Born to raise the sons of earth / Born to give them second birth.”

These carols and many others are a testament to the gospel, the good news of the Bible. As these hymns express, Jesus is so much more than a baby or even a man. He is God incarnate who dies in our place and offers the way that guarantees salvation to those who believe in His redemptive work. Listen … do you hear?