Finding the Real Jesus in the Music of ChristmasSample

One of the hallmarks of Christmas time, along with the trees, presents, and baked goods is the music. Christmas music ranges from deeply emotional instrumentals to campy songs about nasally illuminated reindeer. We all have our favorites for various reasons, but we don’t always think about the words in the songs we listen to around the tree.

Over the next several days, we are going to look at some popular Christmas songs and find the real Jesus in them. This will be easier in some songs than others. Hopefully, seeing Jesus more clearly in the music we listen to will reinforce the real reason for the Christmas season.

To start, we are going to look at “Hark the Harold Angels Sing.”

“Hark the Harold Angels Sing” is the entire gospel summarized in song. In the first verse, we learn that Jesus was born to reconcile sinful man with God. This song also makes it clear Jesus came as the Son of God and is also God himself “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead seen, Hail the incarnate deity.” The very next line, “Pleased, as man with men to dwell,” makes sure Jesus’ humanity is not forgotten.

The final verse reminds us Jesus’ birth led to his death so that “man no more may die.” And that this was planned from the beginning. That Jesus came to fulfill the plan He helped create.