I love Christmas music. You may think I’m just saying that, many people do, but I have actually been gathering a selection of top one hundred awesome originals, remakes, and mashups that I now describe as “my epic Christmas playlist.” It ranges from fun and silly Chipmunks songs to moving orchestral arrangements and rap to swing to opera and everything in between. I’m probably a little too proud of it, but it’s one of my favorite things about Christmas. But on that list, one of my all time favorite Christmas songs is O Come O Come Emmanuel.
I have been reflecting on this song a lot this month. And I was amazed to discover that the song is actually much older than I realized. In fact, the song was possibly written in the 9th century as a Latin hymn. It was re-written in English and has somehow managed to dazzle us every year since then, especially around Christmas.
I find it unbelievably astounding that this song has managed to dazzle and impress us for over 1000 years. What an incredible legacy! How do you write something that continues to matter for that long? Part of that comes from the relatability of the story- the Israelites waited an incredible 600 years for the Messiah to appear, but we nowadays can also relate to waiting for Jesus to return. But that legacy also comes from the way it was written. It was written as a part of an acrostic- seven songs that were sung leading up to Christmas day. The first letter of each of these titles forms an acrostic- spelling out the answer to the song- “I am coming tomorrow.” Part of why the song has lasted is simply because it was intended to have a message much bigger than just itself.
How often do we aim to create things like this nowadays? I heard a friend mention that one of the hit songs last year was great in a way that it would be something our kids would also sing- it would likely be a anthem that would continue for decades. But honestly, most of the things we build, create, and send are not made to have that kind of impact. We create for now, and I personally spend very little time thinking about whether or not my words would mean anything at all 1000 years from now.
But the biggest win for legacy for O Come, O Come Emmanuel is the uniqueness and honesty of the lyrics themselves. Sometimes I hear people reflect on the Nativity and go on to say that Jesus was great because he did all these miracles, which is very true. But I love Jesus’ birth for the simple fact that it allowed Jesus Christ to be here with us. The win in this song is it speaks about something unique not often seen in other Christmas songs- the beauty of God just being here with us.
That simple word- Emmanuel, means God with us. Not the sometimes terrifying Old Testament Power who ruled with an iron fist and often only interacted with prophets, but God with us. Not just God who saves, heals, fixes, provides, and makes life better, just God with us. Not just a jolly guy who gives us whatever we like once a year, but God here, every moment of every day- God with us. A simple thought, but who else is accessible all day and all night, 365 days a year, never in a meeting, never distracted, and all-loving, besides God?
God who was making a way and would no longer require a perfect animal sacrifice and holy rule-following perfection just to be near Him. God who left his cushy, perfect set-up in heaven ruling the world and made it a priority to come to our broken world. The long worshiped King in history who gave up his crown, his title, his worth, his everything to come down to earth just to be with us. To know us. To love us. To walk with us. To give us access to a God who often works in ways we won’t expect- like being born as a child in a lowly manger to remind us that he is not always an all-powerful, terrifying being… To remind us he is sweet, and safe, and lovable, and cuddly just like a baby. And just like a child, present. Not just once a year for holidays but there every moment, checking in, sharing things with you, loving you, excited just to know you and be near you. Not God out there somewhere worried about someone or something else, but God here with us. A simple but incredible thought. He is here.
I’m praying this season not just for an understanding of how to create things that stand the test of time, but also for a better understanding of the one person who already has- O come, O come Emmanuel.