“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Music was always a big part of my life growing up. My mother and her sisters would travel around the city of Dallas and sing together at a variety of churches. They even made an appearance or two on The Lawrence Welk Show, and with one of my favorites, Mr. Peppermint! My dad was active in his school bands growing up and the orchestra at church as an adult. Both of my parents had a great love and passion for music and passed that love on to me.

Of course, Christmas was always an exciting time as I participated in a variety of musicals through my school and church. I vividly remember singing Christmas carols at the top of my lungs with great anticipation of Christmas morning and all the joy it would bring! I loved the familiarity of singing the traditional Christmas carols but didn’t always grasp the depth of the words and message in the songs.

Christmas is that most special time of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Our homes, churches, and communities are filled with the melodies of Christmas, which share rich and deep theological truths. One of those carols is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” written by Charles Wesley, an English Methodist leader, hymn writer, and brother of John Wesley. He penned over eight thousand hymns with a goal of writing in order to teach the poor and illiterate sound doctrine.

As we sing this familiar Christmas carol, we hear the names and titles of Christ—King, Lord, Prince of Peace, Sun of Righteousness, Everlasting Lord, Desire of Nations, Incarnate Deity, and Emmanuel. In the very first stanza, we sing of the birth of our Savior, the newborn King! How often do we sing this carol and miss the message of the gospel? God and sinners reconciled!

We celebrate the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the resurrection of the body, and the truth of the new birth. We are told of Christ’s nature, His birth and incarnation, His ministry, and salvation. As we walk into shopping areas this season and hear the sounds of Christmas, as we play our favorite Christmas hymns, and participate in worship, may the words of these beautiful songs linger in our hearts and impress upon us these deep truths of the enormity of God’s love for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the greatest gift on earth and in heaven. Do you know Him today?