The Gospel in the Carols

Christmas music fills the air in December. Anywhere you walk in our nearby Waterford Lakes Shopping Center, you will hear about Jesus as carols play one after another. That’s probably true in your city as well.

In earlier days, before many people could read, and even before the Bible was in the language of the people, the Gospel was communicated through song. Much old church music contains the truths of the good news of Jesus—incarnation, life, teachings, death and resurrection—and that’s how people learned and remembered.

The carols we sing every Christmas are filled with this amazing Gospel. I first realized this soon after I met Jesus. Every Christmas Eve our family went to a midnight service—almost the only time my father attended. He would loudly sing the many carols—and as I listened to the words and recognized what they were saying, I wondered if my unbelieving father knew what he was singing.

For the past week I have been posting a different Christmas carol on Facebook each day, desiring to remind us what this season is all about: Jesus. I have tried to choose carols with clear gospel, presented by a wide variety of artists.

Here are the 10 songs, with links, that I have posted. May you be blessed by the wonderful gift God has given us.

“O Holy Night” sung by Josh Groban

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” sung by Nat King Cole

“Mary Did You Know?” sung by Pentatonix

“What Child Is This?” sung by Josh Groban

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” sung by Celtic Woman

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” sung by Johnny Mathis

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” sung by Enya

“Joy to the World” sung by Aretha Franklin

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” sung by Fernando Ortega

“Angels We Have Heard on High” sung by International Children’s Choir

Enjoy. Rejoice. Worship.