O Come All Ye Faithful

Luke 2:15 (ESV)

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

O come, all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold him

Born the king of angels

Oh come let us adore him

Oh come let us adore him

Oh come let us adore him

Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angles

Sing in exultation

Sing all ye citizens of heaven above

Glory to God

Glory in the highest

Oh come let us adore him

Oh come let us adore him

Oh come let us adore him

Christ the Lord

Yea, Lord we greet thee

Born this happy morning

Jesus to thee be all glory given

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

Oh come let us adore him

Oh come let us adore him

Oh come let us adore him

Christ the Lord

Come let us adore him

He is Christ the Lord

Sing choirs of angels

Come let us adore him (come let us adore him)

Come let us adore him

I have never visited Israel. I suppose that one day I would love to visit and walk the places where Jesus ministered and the church began, but I’ve just never had the means or opportunity to do so up until this point in my life.

“O Come All Ye Faithful” is a hymn that celebrates the remarkable joy and excitement that surrounded the birth of Christ, asking us to “come to Bethlehem.” Of course, that is much of what Christmas is about in the Christian tradition, recreating the scene and impact of the birth of Jesus. And while we cannot travel back in time to the setting of Jesus’ birth, there is a wonderful realization that we don’t actually need to, because God has made himself available to us in all ages and places through Jesus.

The line in this song, “Word of the Father / Now in flesh appearing” speaks to the heart of how we are all able to join in with this celebration. Prior to his birth as the baby Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Word, existed in perfect harmony with God for all previous eternity. But the infinite possibilities of God entering human flesh has made it all possible. In Jesus, we can join alongside the history of God’s people and their worship of Christ, and each Christmas as we specifically focus on Jesus’ birth, we too can say, “Oh come let us adore him / He is Christ the Lord.”

Dear Lord, thank You for bringing us the opportunity to relate to You and connect to You through Jesus. Your Spirit indwells each of us, and speaks to us the truth of worship and adoration of your Son. Lord, enable us to focus intently on You this Christmas season, and learn ways that we can connect to you throughout the year. In the Name of Jesus,  Amen.