Welcome to the Prince of Peace podcast. Over 10 episodes we will explore together what it means to know this Prince of Peace and celebrate his gift of salvation this Christmas time. Make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this so that you will automatically get the next episode. A video version is available on the YouTube channel for Annalong Presbyterian Church. New episodes will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays up to, and including, Christmas Eve.

Every so often there are new songs that come out at Christmas that fit so well with the style and content of Christmas music, that we take to them as if they are a traditional carol. One such song for me has been ‘Sing we the song of Emmanuel’. It’s a song with an upbeat tune and words of hope that help me express what it means to know Jesus Christ as Emmanuel, God with us. So far the two advent carols we have looked at have focused on the coming of Jesus and his advent here on earth. Today’s song is a stepping stone that takes us from the advent waiting to the retelling of the Christmas story. Have a listen, and perhaps even sing along, to this new advent carol as sung by Miriam Chambers, a member of our congregation.

Sing we the song of Emmanuel
This the Christ who was long foretold
Lo in the shadows of Bethlehem
Promise of dawn now our eyes behold.
God Most High in a manger laid
Lift your voices and now proclaim
Great and glorious, Love has come to us
Join now with the hosts of heaven

Come we to welcome Emmanuel
King who came with no crown or throne
Helpless He lay, the Invincible
Maker of Mary, now Mary’s son
O what wisdom to save us all
Shepherds, sages, before Him fall
Grace and majesty, what humility
Come on bended knee, adore Him

Go spread the news of Emmanuel
Joy and peace for the weary heart
Lift up your heads, for your King has come
Sing for the Light overwhelms the dark
Glory shining for all to see
Hope alive, let the gospel ring
God has made a way, He will have the praise
Tell the world His name is Jesus

Gloria! Gloria

So much of Christmas is caught up in music. We all have our choice of favourite Christmas carols and songs. They are the ones that we wait to sing at church services or hear played on the radio. In many cases if we don’t hear them, well, then it just isn’t Christmas, is it? I’ve already told you that I deeply appreciate this song that has just been sung for us. The words and tune fit so well to the message it brings. And one of my favourite lines comes from verse 2,

O what wisdom to save us all
Shepherds, sages, before Him fall

This is the heart of the gospel message of salvation. In Christ’s coming to earth he wasn’t placed in a palace or in a wealthy home. He was born in a stable. In fact, he was born in a manger — the feeding trough of smelly, noisy animals. Can you image a plan like this? The creator of the world coming to that simple stable. But he did because it demonstrated who he came to save. The fact that shepherds — who were the lowliest and most looked down upon in society — and the sages — those wise and wealthy men from the East — in equal measure bowed down to him, demonstrating to us that Christ came to save everyone; he came to save you and me.

This was foretold, not by a prophet, but by an angel to Joseph. In Matthew 1: 20-23 we read,

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

The angel tells us that there is no distinction here; Christ will save his people from their sins. There is no specific rank or title mentioned. He has come as Immanuel, God with us, to save us.

Verse 3 of this song goes on to invite us to proclaim what Jesus has come with as a gift to us. He has come with joy and peace for the weary soul. A moment ago I spoke about Christmas music. Perhaps you are sick and tired of hearing it constantly played already! Isn’t it amazing how something we may initially enjoy can become wearisome to us? We easily get tired with much that this world offers. But in knowing the salvation of Christ, we know peace and joy for our weary souls. Later in Matthew’s gospel Jesus issues us with the greatest invitation we can ever receive. In Matthew 11: 28-30

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

As much as I love today’s song, I love these words more. The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, invites us to find true peace in him by coming to him and finding rest. We all need to know this peace that only he can give. He invites to come to him to receive it. We don’t automatically get it by birth or good works; it is only in knowing Christ as our Saviour that we can have such a blessing. And when we do then we echo the closing words of verse 3,

Glory shining for all to see
Hope alive, let the gospel ring
God has made a way, He will have the praise
Tell the world His name is Jesus

In knowing such peace we will want others to know about it too! It’s good news for everyone. It’s good news for you!

Thank you joining me today in this episode of the Prince of Peace podcast. Join me in episode four as we look at the carol ‘O come, all ye faithful’. Make sure you subscribe on YouTube or in your podcast app to get the next episode when it drops. Find out more at www.annalongpc.org or check out our Facebook page and Instagram account. Links are in the show notes.