The temptation we have at Christmas is to look at the manger and see just a baby and miss the great significance of ADVENT. As painful as it is to think, the importance of Christ’s coming to earth was to be crucified. We can’t have an understanding of Christmas without thinking about the cross. Fortunately, a lot of our hymns show a connection between Christmas Day and Good Friday. Check out these:
O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”…Light and life to all He brings…mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth
I wonder as I wander out under the sky, how Jesus the Savior did come for to die, for poor, lonely people like you and like I…
Long lay the world in sin and error pining till He appeared and the soul felt its worth…Chains shall break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease
Good Christian men rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!