Emmanuel Christmas Quotes

In a season like this, I wouldn't be held by the snow. With all these feelings of bliss, I've to put aside my ego And step out to let you know, With you, I'm well pleased And the love you show, Is to me the bee's knees.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel “T hey shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:23 ESV). This is perhaps our oldest Christmas carol. Historians say its roots go back to the 8th century. In its earliest form, it was a “plain song” or a chant and the monks sang it a cappella. It was sung or chanted in Latin during the seven days leading up to Christmas. Translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851, we sing it to the tune “Veni, Emmanuel,” a 15th-century melody. Many churches sing it early in the Advent season because of its plaintive tone of expectant waiting. Traditionally Advent centers on the Old Testament preparation for the coming of the Messiah who will establish his kingdom on the earth. When the words form a prayer that Christ will come and “ransom captive Israel,” we ought to remember the long years of Babylonian captivity. Each verse of this carol features a different Old Testament name or title of the coming Messiah: “O come, O come, Emmanuel.” “O come, Thou Wisdom from on high.” “O come, Thou Rod of Jesse.” “O come, Thou Day-spring.” “O come, Thou Key of David.” “O come, Thou Lord of Might.” “O come, Desire of Nations.” This carol assumes a high level of biblical literacy. That fact might argue against singing it today because so many churchgoers don’t have any idea what “Day-spring” means or they think Jesse refers to a wrestler or maybe to a reality TV star. But that argument works both ways. We ought to sing this carol and we ought to use it as a teaching tool. Sing it—and explain it! We can see the Jewish roots of this carol in the refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. But Israel’s Messiah is also our Savior and Lord. What Israel was waiting for turns out to be the long-expected Jesus. So this carol rightly belongs to us as well. The first verse suggests the longing of the Jewish people waiting for Messiah to come: O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appears The second verse pictures Christ redeeming us from hell and death: O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny From depths of Hell Thy people save And give them victory o’er the grave This verse reminds us only Christ can take us home to heaven: O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Let’s listen as Selah captures the Jewish flavor of this carol. Lord, we pray today for all those lost in the darkness of sin. We pray for those who feel there is no hope. May the light of Jesus shine in their hearts today. Amen.

Thankfully, the lighting of the tree is enough to bring me back to my senses. The golden white lights flicker to life, illuminating the wintry night and igniting the Christmas spirit in every Mondovian heart. And as the crowd breaks into a moving rendition of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” I lift my gaze to the star shining on the tree’s tallest bough and begin to sing along.

It’s a massager not a vibrator!’ ‘No, Uncle Steve,’ Manny said, shaking his head. ‘I’m both sorry and delighted to say you’ve bought your daughter a vibrator. And a good one as well, from the looks of it, very nice.’ ‘It’s a massager,’ Dad repeated as he read the back of the box, the look on his face less certain now. ‘See here? Three speed settings, four massage patterns. Massage, Emmanuel!

this

we cannot truly sing “Joy to the World” unless we have thoroughly rehearsed “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

Dark days lie ahead, my dear, but a light has dawned in the distance. Oh that it were in our days... But Light is coming. The Mighty God is coming. His zeal will perform this. He will do it, and it will come to pass.

God has come to my neighborhood, he mused.

Maybe God has been writing this story just perfectly, all along.

Maybe God had been writing this story just perfectly, all along.

For no matter what they made of him, Caesar Augustus always knew that he was nothing but mere mortal.

Wherever his light leads, we follow.

Now this was interesting. The innkeeper surmised that this pregnancy could have been out of wedlock, especially if the family were unwilling to take them in at such a crucial stage. But it was not of his business, and as long as he would get money out of the deal, he could not afford to have an opinion.

I think about how the Lord never sleeps nor slumbers as He watches over us. When I lie across the door of the sheep pen to guard the sheep, I remember that He is my protection.

God came for you.

God never promised us a life without pain or suffering, Jaime. He’s promised to never leave us in the midst of that pain. He promised to bring purpose out of that pain. Emmanuel, God is with us. That was the name given to Jesus. Emmanuel.

O Emmanuel O Emmanuel