Hark! The herald angels sing!

I haven't had much free time lately. I want to try and blog about becoming a Dad sometime. Its still so new, awesome and at times overwhelming for us both. As someone said to me recently "the world is suddenly a much more beautiful place and a much more scary place at the same time". New life is so beautiful yet so vulnerable. I got a chance to listen to some carols for the first time today and now I'm really in a Christmas mood. I was struck by how much profound theology and great poetry there is in the old carols. Specifically 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' by John Wesley reminded me of the incredible mystery of Christmas.

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways.” Then He sent His Son. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled"

This is the essence of the gospel. All nations are blessed through it.

Joyful, all ye nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies.
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

We celebrate the incarnation. "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us" (John 1:14)

God, the Son, who always was . . .

Christ by highest heaven adored. Christ the everlasting Lord!

. . . came to earth, born of a virgin, 'as man' and 'with man'. It's described in Philippians 2 (theologically 'the Kenosis'). God Himself relinquished his position, 'emptied himself' and obediently submitted himself to the Father's will.

Late in time behold Him come. Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

Jesus, the Christ, came to glorify God . . .

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

. . . to redeem us from sin and death . . .

Light and life to all He brings. Risen with healing in His wings

. . . and to reconcile man to God.

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.
Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

The carol has become part of the institution and tradition of Christmas. Let's celebrate Jesus, the "newborn King," our "Prince of Peace," "Sun of Righteousness," "Everlasting Lord," "Incarnate Deity," and, best of all, "Immanuel" — "God with us."