O Holy Night, the song that sings of the Christ child’s birth and the heavenly connection, offers us a glimpse of the sacred gift Jesus brought to earth. Find phrases from Scripture that draw us into the depth of this most holy night.
O Holy Night
The first verse of this beloved hymn and Christmas carol brings us to the hope-filled moment of the Messiah’s arrival into a world grown weary. That Holy night when God’s gift to humanity, His beloved Son, took His first breath.
Gift of love
The second verse speaks to the gift of love Jesus brought to us and taught to us. A gift reflected in an oft-memorized Scripture passage.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
The next phrase of the song speaks of the law and love and the gospel of peace.
Love fulfills the law
Two verses from Romans illustrate the connection between the law and love.
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 NIV
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10 NIV
Gospel of peace
Verses from Colossians help make the connection to the gospel of peace.
“In [Christ] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14 NIV
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 NIV
Christmas
I have felt a certain level of intensity coming with this Christmas. Sure this year has been intense and challenging, but something beyond that, a sense that things are ramping up. The deepest issues seem to be surfacing, you know, the ones you thought you’d dealt with and healed from. Those hurts you bump against that you haven’t thought about in a while until something makes contact and you are reminded of their presence.
The manger and the cross
In this season of Advent I’ve felt a strong connection between the manger and the cross. How God sent Jesus into our world knowing full well His journey would continue to the cross.
Maybe rather than cover up our issues and hide them all wrapped up under a pretty façade of false control, maybe we’re supposed to bring them to the manger. Maybe the gift God wants to give each of us this Christmas is to take our heavy loads, our burdens from us and draw our attention to new life in Christ.
Receive the gift
Can you see this Christmas as an opportunity to release the heavy weight you’ve been carrying and receive the gift Christ has for you?
I woke up this morning with all the weight of the burdens I’ve been carrying. As I’ve contemplated this idea of bringing them to Jesus this Christmas, my heart feels a bit lighter. I’m not cured or healed, but the weightiness is gone.
Release your load
Have you felt an intensity leading up to Christmas?
Maybe Christ is calling you to release your load, too.
While I was writing my worries down, my stressors ran out of steam. Writing them out, telling them to Jesus, lessened the weight of them.
Do you have burdens you’ve been carrying? Maybe they didn’t seem that significant when you first picked them up, but a prolonged period of holding onto them has made them feel heavier. Or maybe they’ve been heavy from the moment you picked them up.
Is God calling you to release them this Christmas?
For me, that meant sharing the load with Jesus. Telling Him what I was worried about. Maybe that would help you, too.
This Christmas may you draw closer to Jesus and the gift of His Presence.
Christmas carols in the Scriptures – Hark the Herald Angels Sing