O come, O come, nice Lord of may,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s peak
In historic occasions did give the legislation
In cloud and majesty and awe.Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
“Nice Lord of may” hardly appears an applicable deal with for the son of Mary. In his infancy, needy, dependent, susceptible — like each different human babe. In his youth, submissive to his mother and father. In his few grownup years, despised, rejected, misunderstood, the scorn and derision of the “lordly” of the land, killed.
And but . . .
Almighty on the Mountain
The previous Latin textual content of the normal Christmas hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” reads, “Veni, veni, Adonai” (“Come, come, Lord”) after which remembers the good theophany of God on the mountain of Moses. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the one who rescued his folks from enslavement in Egypt with “an outstretched arm and with nice acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6), got here down with “thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud” and with “a really loud trumpet blast,” wrapped in fireplace (Exodus 19:16, 18).
Right here was El Shaddai, “God Almighty” (Exodus 6:2), the God of may who made covenants with their forefathers, who saved his promise to overcome their enemies, who prompted the waters to show purple with blood, to face in a heap, to show from bitter to candy, to burst forth from a flinty rock on a parched plain. Right here was the one who served his folks meals within the wilderness — manna, the very bread of heaven.
Right here was Adonai (the Latin rendering of Yahweh in Exodus 6:3), who promised to take the pitiful folks of Israel, the least of all of the nations, and make them his personal with a staggering twofold promise: “I’ll take you to be my folks, and I shall be your God” (Exodus 6:7). Right here was the one who addressed Moses from the burning bush and the folks from the flaming mount, in grace giving them the legislation.
There may hardly be higher information for the folks of Israel. Oppressed by the Egyptians, they known as out to the God of their fathers. Their cry, removed from falling on deaf ears, was heard by the one who created the heavens and the earth, the skies and the seas. God heard them, knew their plight, and got here in may to ship them.
Rejoice! Rejoice, O Israel! For right here, actually, is God with us — Immanuel.
Who Is This?
To all appearances, the arrival of the everlasting Son within the incarnation may hardly be extra completely different from the scene at Mount Sinai. The angel informed Joseph to call his betrothed’s unborn youngster “Jesus, for he’ll save his folks from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). However may a babe harassed all through his temporary life actually be the identical God who broke out in energy towards the land of Egypt? In spite of everything, isn’t he simply the carpenter’s son?
To those that had eyes to see and ears to listen to, this Nazarene was excess of a footsore rabbi.
He was the one who reigned over the waters. In his first miracle, he revealed his glory by turning clear water to purple wine (John 2:6–11). To the amazement of his disciples, he demonstrated his energy over raging seas as he calmed with a phrase or walked throughout the waves (Matthew 8:26; 14:25). To the marvel of the Samaritan girl, he promised water that might eternally slake her thirst (John 4:14).
He was the one who supplied meals for the hungry. Twice, when the multitudes hungered, he gave a heavenly blessing and multiplied bread within the wilderness (Matthew 14:19; 15:36). After they sought extra indicators of his id, he named himself because the very bread of life (John 6:35).
Much more, he was the one who made blind eyes see, deaf ears hear, lame males stroll, the sick nicely, the useless alive, at whose mere presence the demons cowered and at whose phrase they fled.
May this be El Shaddai?
He was the one who spoke to Israel from the mountain, giving the legislation of the dominion as “one who had authority,” astonishing the crowds together with his educating as he known as them to enter the dominion of heaven (Matthew 7:28–29; 5:20). He was the one who, as in days of previous, spoke with Moses on the mountain within the radiance of his glory and within the shadow of the cloud (Matthew 17:3–5).
May this be Adonai? May he be the long-awaited Immanuel?
He was not the Messiah they anticipated. His life ended miserably on a felony’s cross.
And but . . .
O Come, Behold
For these with eyes to see, even within the hour of deepest humility God reveals himself in salvific glory.
Right here on the tree, God speaks from a mount shrouded in cloud and deep darkness. “It’s completed,” rings the cry (John 19:30). The earth shakes; the rocks break up.
Right here on the tree is blood poured out, the proper achievement of the legislation. And right here on the tree the purple blood of the brand new covenant turns to clear water, spilt from his facet — a river of life.
Right here on the tree his physique is damaged. “It’s bread,” he stated, “given for you.” The very bread of heaven come right down to feed the hungry.
Right here is your God. His identify is El Shaddai, for he releases his folks from bondage by the energy of his arms outstretched. His identify is Adonai, for he’s the God of the covenants — previous and new. His identify is Immanuel, for he’ll dwell with us.
His identify is Jesus.
O come, o come, ye Christian and behold
This one who labored his wonders from of previous
The Lord of may on Calvary’s tree
Now reigns for you in majesty.
