Lauren Daigle released this song in 2016. In my opinion, this is one of better Christmas songs written by a modern, contemporary Christian artist. Daigle has a beautiful voice and the rhythm of this song is something you will find yourself tapping along with. She rightfully centers this song around the baby Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, the Prince of Peace.
I bunched the lyrics together because some of them repeat a few times. This way, my analysis can be a little more direct and concise.
The song begins:
“The world waits for a miracle. The heart longs for a little bit of hope. Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel. The child prays for peace on Earth. And she's calling out from a sea of hurt. Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel. And can you hear the angels singing? Glory to the Light of the world. Glory, the Light of the world is here.”
The Messiah, the Savior of the world, was prophesied about from God’s prophets to the Israelites for centuries. But Jesus did not come to free only the people of Israel from their physical overlords. Instead, He came to free all peoples of all nations from the chains of sin and death.
I like the way Daigle referenced the popular and favorite Christmas hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” in her song. “Emmanuel” means “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23). We are urgently invited to pray to God in all things, especially when we are hurt and low. (Philippians 4:6-7). How does God answer our prayers? Through Emmanuel, Jesus Christ. He comes down to us!
When the angels announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds tending their flocks in the field, I bet it was both the most terrifying and most amazing thing they had ever witnessed. Can you imagine it? A whole host of angels, filling the night sky with their words of joy, peace, and adoration! A whole host of angels announcing to lowly shepherds in their own wonder and amazement at the miraculous works of God. (Luke 2:13-14).
Not only did God make Himself human, He had a virgin give birth to His only Son, Jesus Christ. God works best in the realm of impossibilities, for with God, all things are possible. (Luke 1:37). Jesus is the Light of this world and He is here with us, always. (John 8:12). Those who follow Him will have internal, as well as eternal peace, no matter what is going on around them. (John 14:27).
The song concludes:
“The drought breaks with the tears of a mother. A Baby's cry is the sound of love. Come down, come down, Emmanuel. He is the song for the suffering. He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace has come. He has come, Emmanuel. Glory to the Light of the world. For all who wait. For all who hunger. For all who've prayed. For all who wander. Behold your King! Behold Messiah! Emmanuel, Emmanuel. Glory to the Light of the world!”
In that area of the world, they have wet and dry seasons and droughts were common. There are quite a few times mentioned in Scripture that surround droughts and the rains that broke them. Daigle paints the perfect picture here: Mary’s tears, in the pains of birthing our Lord and Savior, represents the breaking of the spiritual drought that sin caused by beginning the work of His salvation for us on that first Christmas Eve in His holy birth.
Jesus’ cries as a baby signified Him as fully human, as well as fully God. Contrary to the popular idea that Jesus never cried as a child, I would argue that is incorrect. It is not a sin for a baby to cry; that is how they start breathing after they leave their mother’s womb. It is also how they tell their caretakers that they are hungry and dirty, among other things. If crying was a sin, signaling that Jesus didn’t cry as a baby, why did Jesus weep at the tomb of His friend Lazarus moments before He raised him from the dead? Jesus knew what He was about to do, yet He still wept for His friend.
Those who are suffering can cry out to Him and He will end their pain and suffering. He is the long-awaited Messiah; He is the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6-7). All glory, laud, and honor be to Him who saves us from our sin and death! For those who were waiting for Him to come on that first Christmas, He came. For us today, we wait for Him to return. And He will come again! (Revelation 22:12-13). In the meantime, He feeds us with His Word, His body, and His blood. (Matthew 26:26-29). One day, we will feast with Him in heaven for all eternity.
God answers our prayers through Christ alone. Some argue that God doesn’t exist because they never received an answer from Him in their prayers. Well, if you don’t believe in God, how could you expect Him to answer your prayers? Sometimes, He answers us with “no” and sometimes He answers us with “not yet.” He will give you what you pray for in the name of Jesus Christ, so long as it aligns with His Will for you in your life. (1 John 5:14-15). So boldly pray to God, that His Will be done in and through you.
My favorite part of this song is when Daigle sings, “Behold your King! Behold Messiah!” It makes my heart leap for joy every time I hear it. Whether she intended to or not, those are the words that Pontius Pilate used during Jesus’ trial before His crucifixion. (John 19:14). If Daigle did intend that, then kudos to her! Jesus came down from His throne in heaven with one mission, to go to the cross, to die for our sins, and to set us free from the bonds! This was the only reason He was incarnate and born a human; the entire reason God came to be with us, Emmanuel.
Glory be to Jesus Christ; glory be to the Light of the world!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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