We all love our Christmas hymns. But usually we just know the first verse well, then stumble through the second verse and then we are back in the hymn book. However, most of these writers built the song through all of its verses to come to a wonder end with a wonderful message. What was the writer thinking? What emotions were present? What was the story? We love these songs for how they impact our lives.          

        How does a Christian not love “Silent Night?”

Silent night, holy night, (Maybe not so silent, but certainly holy)
All is calm, all is bright (Had to be Spiritually bright as the light of the world came)
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild (Beautiful image of Christ)
Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace (Captures the mood)

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight (They were startled!)
Glories stream from heaven afar (The angels sang from Heaven!)
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born. (The most blessed event in Jewish history)

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light (Yes! Yes! Love’s pure light!)
Radiant beams from Thy holy face (We don’t know this, but it is powerful)
With the dawn of redeeming grace (Dawn broke with new promise)
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth (Even as a baby, He was the Lord!)

        And then there is the beautiful and powerful “O Holy Night.”

O holy night, The stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth! (Surely it was glorious!)
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, (Sin everywhere, then the sinless One came)
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. 
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, (Even for those whom didn’t know, it all must have felt different)
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices! (Worship! Worship!)
O night divine, oh night when Christ was born!
O night divine, oh night, oh night divine! (A divine and holy night, indeed!)

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, (He came for us, so we are, in a Spiritual sense, standing by.)
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. 
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, (The rustic setting, but still the King and our Friend!)
In all our trials, born to be our Friend! 
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bow! (Bow before Him, world. Bow before your King!)
Behold your King! Your King! Before Him bow. 

Truly He taught us to love one another; (Much is said about the Law in the Bible, but love is the key.)
His law is love and His gospel is peace. 
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother (Written in 1847, the song was banned for a time for saying the slave was a brother.)
And in His name all oppression shall cease. 
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, 
Let all within us praise His holy name! (Let praises ring for Him!)
Christ is the Lord, oh praise His name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim (Never cease to proclaim Him!)
His power and glory, evermore proclaim!

          But, my favorite Christmas hymn, and my all time favorite hymn of any kind, is “Joy to the World!” The first verse is about the Birth, but the song as a whole is about His life.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King; (Oh, if only the world would receive!)
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing, (One day, even the rocks will cry out and proclaim His holy name.)
And Heaven and nature sing, 
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! (Even as a humble carpenter, He ruled the world, if only a few knew.)
Let men their songs employ; 
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains (One day all will know and all of creation will repeat the sounding joy!)
Repeat the sounding joy, 
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, (Now, we do not have to let sin rule.)
Nor thorns infest the ground; (The curse of Eden no longer has to infest our spirit. It is His blessing.)
He comes to make His blessings flow  
Far as the curse is found, (Since the curse is over all the earth, all can be free of it within our souls.)
Far as the curse is found,  
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, (We don’t always acknowledge it, but He does rule!)
And makes the nations prove,  
The glories of His righteousness, (He is righteous,)
And wonders of His love,  (He is love,)
And wonders of His love,  (He is wonderful!)
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

          I don’t appreciate the way Christmas is celebrated by the world, but I do appreciate the Birth of our Savior!

          What is your favorite Christmas hymn?