Last night at our candlelight Christmas Eve our pastor, Michael Durham, shared something simple yet profound. When the shepherds were visited by the host of angels who brought good tidings of great joy for all the people (even us), their response was to go see the long-awaited Messiah and worship Him (after they got over the initial shock of seeing their peaceful sky lit up with myriads of angelic beings). Our response should be the same, but to a greater degree. Why? Because we know how the story ends. Those shepherds, as Bro. Michael pointed out last night, didn’t know He was going to be their sacrifice, they just knew He was the One.
We know Christmas didn’t stop with the perfect baby born in a stable, but Jesus, fully God and fully man, grew up to be a man, took our sins upon His perfect self and died in our place. Our pardon He took and now our Mediator He is, sitting at the throne of His Father and petitioning for us still. What a Savior. We have reason to worship.
So as you gather with your family and friends and enjoy the Christmas day, don’t forget to worship the One born to die, born that men no more may die.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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 with men as 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!”
-Charles Wesley, 1739
Sophie Miller 