DAY 8

LORD OF ALL

The Christmas carol, “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly” has a very simple message for us.  The first stanza ends with the words, “Christ the child is Lord of all!”  The second stanza ends with the words, “Christ the child was born for you!” Jesus Christ was not born for one ethnic group or nation.  He came for all people regardless of where you are from.

I live in Cambodia.  People here say, “Jesus is for Americans or Europeans.  We are Buddhist because we are Cambodian.”  This is simply and untrue statement.  Christ is the Lord of all and was born for everyone in every place.  Jesus’ final commission to his disciples is found in Matthew 28:18-20.  There he states:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Jesus came for all people because all people need him.  He sends out those who trust in him to spread the good news that he brought.  That good news: Jesus came to reconcile man to God by his own blood.

This Advent season, remember that Christ is for all people, nations, tribes, and languages.

 

 

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

(This carol is based on a traditional Polish Christmas carol.)

Infant holy, infant lowly, For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the child is Lord of all.
Swiftly winging, angels singing, Bells are ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the child is Lord of all! Christ the child is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, heard the story, Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, Praised voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the child was born for you! Christ the child was born for you!

 

DAY 7

WHAT TO GIVE THE KING WHO HAS EVERYTHING

“In the Bleak Midwinter,” Christina Rossetti employs many contrasts to describe the coming of our Lord.  In the fourth verses she speaks of the angel and archangels who “thronged the air.”   The mighty angels of God were sent to announce and celebrate the coming of Christ.  We are not told in the birth narrative of Christ that his mother Mary kissed him but undoubtedly she did. The carol states,

But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

The mighty power of heaven worshiping Christ contrasted with the gentle kiss of a mother.  All I can say is, “WOW!”

Most of the Christmas carols we sing recount for us different events in the birth narrative of Christ.  Then they leave us with a thought to ponder.  This carol ends in that same vein.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him –
Give my heart.

What will you give to him?  You may say, “I do not have anything to give.  I am not talented.  I do not have material wealth.  I do not have influence.” Each of us has a heart.  That center of our being which all else in our life flows from.  That is really what our Lord desires.  Not just a part of our heart, but rather the whole of it.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  (Ephesians 3:14-19)

This Advent season, in response to the greatest gift ever given to you, give back to him your entire heart.

 

 

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breast full of milk,
And a manger full of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air –
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him –
Give my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ

 

DAY 6

PEACE GIVEN

Luke 2:10-14

¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

“While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night” is a carol of praise for the message brought to the shepherds.  That message, a Savior had been born and he is Christ the Lord.  With this birth came the declaration of, “on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”  Over 2000 from his birth, we need more than ever this announcement of peace.  Why is there so little peace today?  If you reject the source of peace, you reject peace.  Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Peace starts with you and me.  In this Advent season, invite the peace of Christ, which is the person of Christ, to rule in your heart and mind.

 

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT

Words by Nahum Tate 1702 Music By George Frideric Handel 1728

 

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around

 

“Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds;
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind
 

“To you, in David’s town, this day,
Is born of David’s line
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign
 

The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swaddling-clothes
And in a manger laid
 

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels, praising God, and thus
Addressed their joyful song:
 

“All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from Heaven to men
Begin and never cease
 

 

DAY 5

THE DESCENT THAT RAISES

Charles Wesley’s Christmas carol, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” is brimming with incredible imagery.  Each line is worthy of paragraph of its own.  In the first verse alone he gives us no less than six pictures of Jesus:  he was born to set people free from fears and sin; he is the source of rest; he is the strength and consolation of Israel; he is the hope of all the earth; he is the desire of every nation; and the joy of every longing heart.  The carol recalls the expectation of Christ’s coming and the realization of his arrival, but it also looks towards our final redemption.

The last words of this carol state, “By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.” Christ descended from his glorious place in heaven so that he could raise us to his glorious throne.  He came down to us.  We could not go up to him on our own.  If you look at religions around the world, you will find that most are working to raise themselves up to the place of God.  Because of our sin, this is an impossible task.  The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:9-10, “In saying, He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens that he might fill all things.”  In Christ’s birth, God descended into his creation in order that he might take us to where he is.  He has ascended back into his heavenly glory but he will return again as he promised.

In this Advent season, let us consider the second advent of our Lord.  Let us pray for the second advent of our long expected Jesus.

COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS
by Charles Wesley (1744)

Come Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Joy to those who long to see thee
Day-spring from on high appear
Come thou promised Rod of Jesse
Of Thy birth we long to hear
O’er the hills the angels singing
News glad tidings of a birth
Go to him your praises bringing
Christ the Lord has come to earth

Come to earth to taste our sadness
He whose glories knew no end
By his life he brings us gladness
Our Redeemer Shepherd Friend
Leaving riches without number
Born within a cattle stall
This the everlasting wonder
Christ was born Lord of all

Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

DAY 4

FREEDOM IN TRUST

The third stanza of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen reads:

“Fear not,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of pure or Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Everyone wants to be free, but opinions vary on how to obtain freedom and what it looks like.  Some think that if they have just a little more money, then they will be free.  Others think that if this politician or that is in charge, then they will be free.    Or maybe if I have this job or live in that place, then I will be free.  When these goals are achieved, they are found to only be mute idols.

This carol states, that our Savior came “to free all those who trust in Him.” And what is it that he frees us from?  It is “from Satan’s power and might.” Do you desire to be free?  Trusting in Jesus is the source of the freedom you seek.  When we trust in the things of the world, the world is all we get.  Freedom in the worldly sense is self-sufficiency. When we trust in Christ, we receive freedom for this life and the one to come.  Freedom in the Godly sense is completion.

Jesus states in John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.” The word trust here can also be translated believe and some English translations render it as such.  Belief, in the Christian sense, always means to trust also.  It is not enough to say I believe in Jesus.  We must also trust in him.  I might say I believe you are an honest person, but when I trust my wallet to your keeping, it show that my belief has substance to it.

This Advent season, do not simply believe in the coming of the Son of God, but rather entrust yourself to his keeping and find freedom there.

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“Fear not,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of pure or Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Day 3

THE WORTH OF CHILDREN

For years, I have thought of the carol, “Away in the Manger,” as a lullaby to Jesus. Actually the carol is written from the perspective of a child. He is asking the Lord Jesus to watch over him. In the second stanza of the song, the child asks for the care of the Lord throughout the night until “morning is nigh.” The third stanza goes on to ask for the Lord’s care and love throughout his entire life, “forever.” The child even intercedes for “all the dear children.” His final request, and greatest, is to be with the Lord in his heavenly home.

Our Lord is so powerful that with a rebuke he calmed the storm. With a touch, he healed the blind and the leper. With the fire of God’s wrath in his eyes, he made a whip of cords and cleared the temple of the hucksters and money changers which were corrupting that holy place. Yet this same Jesus had time for children. On one occasion he said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

Our world places little value on children. The life of a child is deemed a choice and not a precious gift. Today children are abused physically, emotionally, and sexually at alarming rates. For many, children should be seen and not heard. It is in this kind of world that Jesus Christ has imbued children with eternal worth. They are precious in his sight. They are worthy of his time and ear.

In this Advent season remember that our Savior came as an infant and had to grow into manhood.
AWAY IN THE MANGER
The authorship is uncertain.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Day 2

MEEK SOULS

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

            who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

            one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

            from ancient days.”

(Micah 5:2)

In an insignificant town, in a far flung despised province of the Roman Empire, the greatest birth in human history occurred.  God chose this lowly village and crowned it with glory by giving it the privilege of being the birth place of his Son.  Humbly this hamlet received the child born in it.

The third stanza of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” reads:

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

God has crowned the human heart with the same opportunity for glory as that little town of Bethlehem.  You and I have the opportunity to receive into our hearts the blessed Son of God.  There is certainly nothing special about you and I that we should be afforded such a great honor.  Yet this wondrous gift is given to us.  It is a gift received not because we deserve it or because we are entitled to it.  This gift must be, and can only be, received by a heart that is meek.  “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:12-13)

With humble heart, welcome Christ in to you heart this Advent season!

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

by Lewis H. Redner and Phillip Brooks

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King,
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sins and enter in,
Be born to us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell:
Oh, come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

DAY 1

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  (John 1:14)

William Chatterton Dix, in his familiar Christmas carol, asks the question, “What child is this?” It is a timeless question that must be answered by you and me.  On this first Sunday of Advent, it is appropriate for us to meditate on this question and its corresponding answer.

The three stanzas of this carol progress from asking this question, then moves on to explain who he is and finishing with what our response should be.  Regrettably, most of the modern versions of this carol expunge the very answer to the question from the song.  Most versions leave out the second half of the second stanza.  The full original version can be read below.  The video that is attached to this blog also has the original version.

Those omitted words give us a glimpse into the nature of Christ.  “Hail, hail the Word made flesh,” speaks of the eternal divine nature of Christ.  “The Babe, the Son of Mary,” speaks of his human nature.  He was the son of a human mother, Mary.  “Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,” speaks of the suffering that will accompany his life.  “The cross he borne for me and you,” speaks of his purpose for come.  The cross was not a mistake.  Jesus Christ was born to die.

What child is this?  This is Christ the King.  He is both the eternal divine Word (the Son of God) and the Son of Man (born of Mary).  His purpose for coming was fulfilled on the cross.  He suffered for sinners like me and you.

Let the answer to this question fill your heart and mind this Advent seaon.

 WHAT CHILD IS THIS

by William Chatterton Dix

 What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross he borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.