Christmas: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The Scripture records for us the coming of the “Son,” of “Jesus,” of “Immanuel” . . .

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins . . . and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.” (Matthew 1:21, 23 – NASB)

In the old carol it is said,

God rest ye merry gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ our Savior

Was born upon this day.

To save us all from Satan’s power

When we were gone astray.

And then the chorus says to us,

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy

Certainly this old Christmas carol, one first published in 1827, brings to our minds great “tidings of comfort and joy.” As our Scripture text bears witness, a baby was going to be born, “a Son.” And “His name” was to be called “Jesus.” And this “Jesus” would be called “Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.'”

In Bethlehem, in Jewry

This blessed babe was born,

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn.

Than which His mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn.

Oh what a blessed reminder to us in this season of great “comfort and joy.” A “blessed babe was born and laid within a manger” on the first Christmas “morn.”

From God our heavenly Father

A blessed angel came.

And unto certain shepherds

Brought tidings of the same.

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by name.

Ah yes! Find great “comfort and joy,” for “God our heavenly Father” is magnified and lifted up, for He has “brought tidings of the same” to a world lost in sin, “how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.”

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

This One who has been born, to Him we are to “sing praises,” and be assured that this Christmas miracle, “this holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface.” This “Son,” this “Jesus,” this “Immanuel,” is the One and only Savior and no other can be who He is or do what He has done. Christmas recalls to our minds that,

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself . . .” (II Corinthians 5:19 – NASB)

Have a good day brethren . . . and as you walk do so with a melody in your heart of “tidings of comfort and joy.”

A Room with a View of Eternity—The Last Will & Testament of Jesus Christ Take a seat at the Master's table. Learn about the riches He gives to all who are His. This book will bless and encourage you, give you hope, and help you live in the joy of your salvation and the riches of Christ that are yours.