Today on Christmas, we celebrate more than just a little baby born. We celebrate the coming of our conquering King. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" brings this home like no other. At first glance, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" looks like the most depressing Christmas song ever. It's in a minor key. The lyrics turn all of us into captives of Satan, dangling over the edge of hell's abyss, straining to hope amid a gloomy cloud of misery, and pleading for a rescue. It makes the Hallelujah Chorus seem a little too chipper.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel Who mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear

This is a song of desperation.

Every single day we mourn our captivity to sin. Every day we need Jesus to ransom our spirit and our soul to himself. Every day we long for Christ to make all things new and to rid us of our anguish.

This is song of expectation.

Creation longs not for a baby, but for a King. For the one who rescues. For the one who ransoms us from death, while the stench of that death from sin is in the air.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 O come, thou rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny

This is a song of covenant.

Jesus came as a helpless baby, died on the cross, and saved us from sin, exactly as the Scripture said he would centuries earlier. And Jesus is coming again as a victorious King to make everything new and abolish sin forever, exactly as he has told us he will.

This is a song of rejoicing.

More than that, it is our refrain.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel

Jesus came and he is coming back. Joy is our best response, our only response—as long as we train our eyes to his face. Presently, the world is broken, sin is real, and circumstances are dire—but Christ is good, powerful, and holy! And he is our conquering King over Satan, sin, and death. In the face of God, we find an infinite hope and a boundless joy! And so we and all of creation should rejoice with everything in us.

This is a song of determination.

We will rejoice, though we are born sinners and though we're tempted by sin every hour. We will rejoice, though Satan is real and demons still oppress. We will rejoice because of our Jesus, who is coming back and who will fight for us forever.

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, Isaiah 25:8 From depths of hell thy people save And give them victory over the grave

This is a song of celebration.

In Jesus, we celebrate victory over sin. If there is no sin, there is no story of Jesus' victory. In Christ's coming and his return, sin is defeated and death is abolished. That is why we celebrate Christmas.

O come, desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind Bid thou our sad divisions cease And be thyself our King of peace It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9

Jesus is coming back! He will overcome. On that day, we will be with him forever. Rejoice!

They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; over the majesty of the LORD they shout from the west. Isaiah 24:14

All Mars Hill churches are holding Christmas services. Find the church nearest you to check for service times.