There is a tendency, both culturally and in the church, to disconnect the infant Jesus from the crucified Christ. Too many want to insulate the babe in the manger from the God-Man who cried from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” Yet there is no meaning in Christmas without a crucified Christ.
Fortunately, many of our hymn writers have understood that, which is why Christmas music is filled with allusions to and direct statements of the cross:
- O come, o come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel…
- Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free, from our fears and sins release us…Born Thy people to deliver…
- No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found…
- Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set Thy people free, but with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn they bore Thee to Calvary…
- This child now weak in infancy our confidence and joy shall be. The power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.…He comes to earth to live and die, a broken race restoring. Although the King of kings is He, He comes in deep humility, His people to deliver and reign in us forever.
- Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”…Light and life to all He brings…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.
- Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought.
- Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
- I wonder as I wander out under the sky, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor, ornery people like you and like I…
- Gathered round Your table on this holy eve, viewing Bethlehem’s stable, we rejoice and grieve; joy to see You lying in Your manger bed, weep to see You dying in our sinful stead…
- Long lay the world in sin and error pining till He appeared and the soul felt its worth… Chains shall break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease
- Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
- O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay; of Him who hung upon the tree and took our sins away: for He who died on Calvary is risen from the grave, and Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is mighty now to save.
- Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall? Lo! At midnight, who is He prays in dark Gethsemane? Who is He on yonder tree dies in grief and agony? ’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story! ’Tis the Lord! The King of glory…
- Shepherds bow before the Lamb, gazing at the glory; gifts of men from distant lands prophesy a story. Gold, a King is born today; Incense, God is with us; myrrh, His death will make a way and by His blood He’ll win us. Son of Adam, Son of Heav’n, given as a ransom; reconciling God and man, Christ our mighty Champion! What a Saviour, what a Friend, what a glorious myst’ry; once a babe in Bethlehem, now the Lord of hist’ry.
Words of Grace 