Tree Lighting and Christmas Carols

Last night I had the privilege of sharing at the lighting of the President's Christmas tree.  It was a new and unique opportunity for me and I wasn't entirely sure how to approach it.  I've preached plenty of times in a wide variety of churches.  I even was able to proclaim the Gospel at a memorial service on campus earlier this year.  But none of those were University sponsored events, and none of those only gave me a handful of minutes to speak.

I finally settled on a brief word concerning Luke 2:8-14 followed up with the theological significance of the coming of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:19-21.  That final verse just continues to amaze me more and more.  Jesus had no sin of His own, but He took my sin upon Himself and suffered in my place.  And now, even though I have no righteousness of my own, I am declared righteous through my faith in Christ!  I'll never get tired of thinking or talking about that!!

What I found particularly encouraging was the song that was performed by a choir of University students.  They sang "Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing," and I was reminded of how much great biblical truth is packed into this familiar Christmas carol.  In fact, I was amazed to realize that the Gospel message had been shared before I ever got up to speak!

Here are some of the lyrics of the song:

"Hark!  The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel

Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing

There it is: the eternal Son of God laid aside His glory and took flesh upon Himself.  His purpose was to die in our place, that those who believe in Him should have a second birth - a new spiritual birth.  And in that new birth we would be reconciled to God and be counted righteous because of what Christ had done on our behalf.

In the past I think I had a bit of a "bah humbug" attitude toward the playing of Christmas carols on popular airwaves and over marketplace speakers.  (Probably just because of the commercialization of Christmas.)  After last night, I'm feeling quite different.  I'm thankful for songs like this that proclaim Gospel truth and I pray that some will have ears to hear the wonder of salvation that has been made available in Christ!