President's Perspective: Come, Jesus

I am always moved by the carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Originating in Latin from the 12th century, and based on plainchant music from the 8th century, this song is among the oldest we still sing today. If the tune evokes images of the music coming from a monastery in the medieval period, that’s because our carol was derived from exactly that type of song, with the English words we now use being added later – two verses in 1861 and two in 1916. 

I am drawn to the haunting melody and emotion of the song, but a couple of things about the words really stand out to me: When you sing this carol, you are reflecting on names or characteristics of Christ. He is Emmanuel - God with us (Matthew 1:23). He is Wisdom from on high (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is the Desire of nations (Haggai 2:7), and He is the Dayspring (Luke 1:78). 

I think one intended effect of this song is that we stop and ponder Christ from the perspective of the Jewish people who had been waiting so long for the arrival of their Messiah. It is hard to properly imagine the mindset of the typical Jew at that time, but it helps to understand their history. 

The zenith of Israel’s national pride and success occurred during King Solomon’s reign with the completion of the first temple. But soon after, Solomon died and the nation was divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The Assyrians conquered and scattered Israel. The Babylonians conquered and scattered Judah. Jerusalem was razed and the first temple was destroyed. 

When the Persians conquered Babylon, a remnant of Jews returned to Jerusalem to rebuild, and the second temple was finished relatively quickly. About 330 years later, the temple was desecrated by the king of Syria, leading to a revolt and subsequent restoration of Jewish practices. A level of autonomy had been regained, but by 63BC, the land of Israel had been conquered and annexed by the Roman empire. 

Israel had indeed experienced “lonely exile” at the hands of various foreign powers. They had undoubtedly experienced “envy, strife, and quarrels.” They desperately needed a savior, and the melody and words of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” capture this sense of longing and desperation. 

But what does this carol mean to us today? As I said, it is difficult to imagine exactly what the ancient Jews were thinking or feeling, but I know how I feel. It feels like our society reached a zenith some time ago. Our nations that once promoted Christian values seem to be chasing everything that is perverse and evil. Our nations that were once united in purpose now feel like they have been divided into multiple (political or social) kingdoms. False religions are growing in popularity at an alarming rate. Sinful practices evoke celebration rather than concern. 

In many ways, Christians in North America are becoming exiles in a foreign land. Our values, once used to establish our society, are now mocked and vilified. Our voices, once seen as important to public discourse, are now often disregarded or even silenced. Truth is often seen as “hate speech.” 

Come, o come, Jesus, and ransom your church, that mourns in lonely exile here until You again appear. 
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The good news is that this carol also has a chorus. It calls on us to rejoice, because Jesus, the Light of the World, has come – God with us. 

I don’t reflect on the sadness of this song or the history of the nation of Israel so that we can mourn together, but that we can grasp the fullness of His deliverance together. Jesus Christ came to save mankind. While we recognize our lonely status amid the “envy, strife and quarrels” of this world, we also know that Jesus Christ came as a baby to free us from all of that and even from death! 
We know that Jesus came just as God’s Word said He would, so we know that He will return, just as He said He would. We look forward to that day with great anticipation, and we hold fast to His Word and to His promises as we wait. 

I am so glad that we have a Fellowship of like-minded believers with whom we can wait for the blessed return of Jesus. As we reflect on the glorious gift of salvation and the hope it brings, let us encourage one another and pray for one another as we wait together. 
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Merry Christmas! ​

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

​Kevin Stone has been in full or part-time ministry for over 30 years. Before accepting the position of President, he spent 12 years as the full-time Pastor of Worship at Crosspoint Bible Church in Omaha, NE - one of our FEBC churches.