For our final Bible drill of the year, let’s turn our attention to the biblical truth illustrated in one of my all-time favorite Christmas carols, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” The lyrics for this beloved song were penned by Charles Wesley in 1739.
Hark the herald angels sing
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
“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 of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’” (Luke 2:13-14)
God and sinners reconciled.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul passionately asserts the supremacy of Christ. Verses 19-20 say “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 4:2)
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, beccause he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son…” (Luke 2:4-7)
Hark! The herald angels sing
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Rev. 22:13)
“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:10-11)
Late in time, behold Him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isa. 7:14)
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning….The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-2, 14-15)
Pleased as man with man to dwell
See John 1:14 above.
Jesus, our Emmanuel
“‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save the people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matt. 1:21-23)
See also Isa. 7:14 (above).
Hark! The herald angels sing
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6)
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” (Isa. 60:1)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Risen with healing in His wings
“But for you who revere My name, the sun of righeousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Mal. 4:2)
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
“I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
See also John 3:16 (above)
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
This second birth is what Jesus discussed with Nicodemus in John 3:1-21.
Hark! The herald angels sing
‘Glory to the newborn King!’
I pray that you all have a joyous, safe and merry Christmas! Glory to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God! To Him be honor and glory for ever and ever!
Leave a Reply