O Come O Come Emanuel Series

You hear it in the third verse we sang: “O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell thy people save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.”

Did you hear that? “From the depths of hell”? What kind of Christmas carol is that? That’s not jolly and merry; that’s somber and serious. Christmas fills churches with “good people” – surely you do not believe that any one here needs saving from the depths of hell!

Instead, in a haunting parallel to the Jews of Jesus’ day, many who like this song do not believe the words. Few admit their wretched condition and spiritual captivity. Few believe that unless God Redeems, there is no hope. Yes – most say, “I’m not perfect”; and with the next breath, “But I’m basically good.” And why would a good person need a baby born to be crushed by God for their iniquities”?

A 16th century Christmas carol:

Remember Adam’s fall, O thou man, O thou man,

Remember Adam’s fall, from heaven to hell!

Remember Adam’s fall, how we were condemned all

In hell perpetual, there for to dwell.

Remember God’s goodnesse, O thou man, O thou man,

Remember God’s goodnesse, And his promise made!

Remember God’s goodnesse, How he sent his Sonne, doubtlesse,

Our sinnes for to redresse: Be not afraid!

Are you basically good, or do you welcome a Redeemer who rescues you from a well-earned hell of your own free choice? God sent his son, doubtless, our sins for to redress, our captivity to break. Advent asks: “Will we worship God become a helpless baby because we are completely helpless?”

We cannot be saved until we admit our true captivity.

2. We Must Desire God’s Freedom

Many would look at the Jews of Jesus’ day and think: of course, they want to be free. Thousands died rebelling against the Greeks. Many longed for Messiah. There were times when Jesus ran from the crowd because they so badly wanted to make him King. Of course they desired freedom.

But did they want the freedom Emmanuel offers? Freedom from thinking they were good enough to meet with God. Freedom from feeling a relationship with God was based on their being born as Jews. Freedom from idea that God loves them because they are better than others — because they tithe and obey the Sabbath and pray daily and never murder or commit adultery. Freedom from pride and looking down on others; freedom from being special because they are persecuted; freedom from self-righteousness and selfishness.

Freedom from the thought that God likes me if I drop some coins in the Salvation Army kettle. Freedom from having to measure up to someone’s standard. Freedom from depending on your baptism or your church attendance or your Bible reading or your prayers to stay God’s hand of judgment. Freedom from the worry that your sin might have just crossed the line and become too much for God to forgive.

For some, Emmanuel’s freedom is good news and cause for rejoicing. Others, however, may not want that freedom.

What about you? Do you want God to like you more when you drop a ten-spot in the kettle or a $100 bill in the plate? Do you want, at least in part, a relationship with God based on your effort, because you do not want all that good effort to go to waste?