Luke 2:8-12 MSG There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
HARK! The Herald Angels Sing (John Wesley/George Whitfield c. 1740)
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’ incarnate Deity, pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Observation
Side note: This Christmas Carol is my favorite of them all. It was written by John Wesley and modified by George Whitfield, two of the preachers instrumental in the Great Awakening, a revival in England and the American Colonies in the 1700’s, setting free the offer of salvation from denominational boundaries. “God and sinners reconciled … Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth.” They invited men and women to receive the free gift of salvation in spite of their theological differences
Back to the song…. “Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified.” I think about these shepherds, the first strangers invited to the stable. They were low on the Jewish value system – not chosen to continue in religious training, only fit to be out in the fields watching sheep, probably malodorous from infrequent bathing. They certainly never expected to meet a king. Perhaps they had enough religious training to expect Messiah to come as an adult – a great warrior king who would free them from Roman rule. Yet, here they are bathed in blazing light and being told that the Messiah was a baby in a manger nearby in their own backwater town of Bethlehem. I am sure they didn’t argue, but, when they recovered their senses, I wonder what they thought on the way to the stable. Recognizing those at the top of the invitation list is worth noting.
Impact On Me
For me, Christmas is a time to recognize the sacrifice our Savior made from manger to the Cross. He came as a baby so He could share in all we are and do, submitted to His parents and the other authority figures as He grew up, lived within the cultural rules of the day, and knew all that would be required of Him well before the Cross. “Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled … Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’ incarnate Deity, pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel … Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth.”
This song always reminds me that our God was willing to give it all to reconcile with me, with us. It also reminds me that He was not in a hurry. He didn’t just drop Jesus down as a fully grown man to start preaching and teaching. He was not moved by the expectations of the warrior Messiah who would free Israel from the latest conqueror. He gave Himself in the God/Man Jesus as a baby and waited until around 30 years to start His 3-year ministry – 33 years that modeled how to live in that reconciled state. Christmas reminds me that the sacrifice started at His birth.
Devotion
“Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord … Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! … Glory to the newborn King!” You are all of these and more! In my life of worshipping You, Lord, never let me forget that You came to provide salvation, reconciliation and indwelling for whosoever will come – to include all humankind. The first invitees to worship You were the lowliest on the social totem pole, the cast offs, the culturally insignificant. You value every soul and desire to embrace – to reconcile – each one to relationship with You. As I sing the songs and enjoy the warmth and joy of the Christmas season, may I never take Your sacrifice for granted – from manger to the Cross. Make it so in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 