You and You and You



But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town David a Savior had been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

The other day I was listening to a modern version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and something stood out. In this particular version the singer sings the words, “He’s coming back for you and you and you and you….” As I listened I began to smile. I heard a very different voice, the voice of a young friend of mine who lives with a mild version of autism, among some other challenges. My little buddy fixates on certain songs or movies and repeats them over and over for a time before moving onto the next one. Right now one of the songs he loves contains the line, “You and you and you and well…..all of you!” See the connection?
While listening to the promise that Jesus, Emmanuel is indeed coming back for you and you and you, I thought of his willingness to come for us at all. We read in the Scripture that Jesus came to the Jews, to the people of Israel, but when they weren’t terribly accepting he opened his invitation to the Gentiles as well, i.e., the rest of us. Hallelujah!

He [Jesus] was born in a stable, in the cold, with no earthly celebration. There was however, great celebrating among the heavenly hosts. I had an occasion to assure a loved one the other day that heaven celebrates when one sinner repents. If heaven celebrates sinners, can you imagine the party thrown for its own precious, sinless Son? That reminds me of proud parents when their child does something, anything and the parents say, “Look, look, at him!” The angels tried to direct the spotlight and a few people got the message. That message wasn’t meant for a few, however, it was meant for many. It is an invitation given to anyone who will open his or her heart to receive it.

Jesus is coming back. I have no idea when and frankly, in my mind, it can’t be too soon.  We sing O Come Emmanuel and beg him to come “and ransom captive Israel.” Captive Israel has expanded to include all of us who believe.

Jesus is coming back, for who? For you and you and you and you and well……all of you (us).  We have no reason to fear, although the circumstances may look scary. Jesus is coming to take us home to the place that he has prepared for us, for all of us who accept the invitation. “O Come Emmanuel!”

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