The First or Second Christmas

The first Christmas, Jesus’ first coming to earth, was foretold through out the Old Testament for the purpose of ransoming not only Israel but the lost of the world. The Jews longed for Messiah to come and save them from tyranny, all needed to be saved from bondage to sin. Writing this two thousand years after Christ came, we still look forward to His coming again, the second Christmas, when He will finally, permanently save all who believe and eternally deliver us from sin. Even though we have salvation, we still long for Him to come save us.

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

This hymn dates back to the 8^th century. It has 7 verses which were originally sung individually on the seven nights leading up to Christmas. Each verse expounds on a different name or attribute of God. Verse one calls on “Immanuel”, God with us. That is our hearts’ greatest desire, to have God fully. It is not an exclusively Jewish desire to be ransomed. In a sense, we are all exiles, wanderers in a foreign land, longing to go home (to Heaven). We await His (second) coming for that purpose.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.

True wisdom is from God. The book of Proverbs talks of wisdom as a person, that person is God. He is wisdom. He is truth. He created everything and can and will guide us if we allow Him. He alone has all knowledge. He alone knows our hearts, and the future.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

The Lord is the Almighty God. He gave the Law by which all will be judged. We need look no further than Egypt to see His greatness, power and might which were clearly seen in the plagues and miracles He performed.

O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.

O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.

Jesus was a descendant of David, son of Jesse, as foretold by the prophets. He came to His people, Israel, to rescue them from sin and bondage to the Law they could never fulfill. He came to defeat sin and death, so that the grave would no longer have its sting. Hell has been defeated. We have victory in Him. We have access to Heaven.

O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

Jesus is called the Bright Morning Star in Revelation. He came so that those who walked in the darkness would have the light of life. He is coming again to drive out darkness forever. We can choose to walk in His light now, we do not have to walk in darkness any longer.

O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is High King over all and the Prince of Peace. Through Him we can have peace, though the nations rage, we can be at peace with Him, others and within. The only way that we can see peace in our communities, countries and nations is through Him. Only He can bring true peace anywhere.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

We have reason to rejoice! Jesus is with us! He has come and defeated sin and death, and He will come again one day to take us home!

As you celebrate the first Christmas, let it draw your thoughts and minds ahead to the second Christmas!