Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Because Charles Wesley is responsible for thousands of hymns, it’s not surprising that we’d incorporate another one of his famous carols.

Here are the lyrics:

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 the angelic host proclaim:

“Christ is born in Bethlehem”

Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord!

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 Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris’n 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 them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!”

THE SONG’S STORY

This hymn was first published in 1739, and the original version of this hymn looks a little different than the one we’re accustomed to:

HARK how all the Welkin rings

“Glory to the Kings of Kings,

“Peace on Earth, and Mercy mild,

“GOD and Sinners reconcil’d!

George Whitefield, the 18th-century Anglican pastor and evangelist, modified the original words and included the carol in his 1754 publication Collection of Hymns for Social Worship. It wasn’t unusual for hymn texts like this to change over time. Many people would be surprised to see the original words of some of their favorite hymns.

THE BIBLICAL CONNECTION

One way to tackle it is to focus in on the line “Mild He lays His glory by.” God didn’t just invade the world to save sinners through the incarnation. He gave us an example to follow:

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:4–11).

Jesus willingly gave up all of his rights and privileges as God in order to enter our world. Jesus and the New Testament writers frequently encourage us to do likewise. We’re called to become servants so we can minister to others.

Now, we are invited into the story of Jesus by becoming what he always was and what he always will be - an exalted servant of God.

The difference between Jesus and you is the possession and displacement of glory. We lost ours because we choose sin. Jesus on the other hand, laid his down so save sinners like us. And yet, the beautiful part of the gospel is that through our humble savior, we too can become like him. We have nothing to lay down, but we have something to lift up. Remember what the lyrics.

Mild He lays His glory by - Christ’s actions

Born that man no more may die - Christ’s saving grace

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

His gracious act of the incarnation tells us of divine love for sinners who trampled their glory. It is in advent we as the church remember Christ disrobed his glory to make us alive in him, to reconcile sinners to God the Father, and bring us a second birth.

With the spirit of thankfulness and cheer, our proper response to God’s grace is to do as Paul wrote to the church of Philippi. Bend our knees and praise his wonderful name.

O Praise the one who paid my debt

And raised this life up from the dead

Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!”

THE CHRISTMAS SERVANTS

When we truly comprehend the weightiness of the advent of Christ and for him to lay down his glory, then we finally come to appreciate what God desires in us. Jesus died, to save and make us to who Jesus is - an exalted servant.

Through his Son, we can become an exalted servant of God.

This message of servant hood is what’s lacking during the Holiday season. We’re told it’s all about what fancy lights, the special Christmas drinks, and gifting presents to one another.

But what if we come to the conclusion that all God desires from this advent is an unhurried life of fidelity to serve others.

What did Paul write to the church?

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

There is the heart of God in Christ. We lay down our own interest, for the interests of others. We labor, toil, grind to help others in need because that’s what Jesus did for us.

Buy someone’s dinner

Invite your neighbors into your home

Give genuine compliments

Find individuals to help through local churches.

Imagine if every church embraced the idea that we were saved so we could serve. That would fundamentally change everything and yet, there is still time. Christ is calling you to imitate him and his glory. Become what he is and be the best exalted servant of the Lord this Christmas season.

Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church Glory to You Who Became Lowly (A Christmas Prayer)

GLORY TO YOU WHO BECAME LOWLY (A Christmas prayer)

What mere human can declare the glory of the All-Life-Giver, who stepped down from majesty and humbled himself to become humanity?

You who lifted up humanity in your birth, lift up my weak mind to declare your birth and proclaim your grace.

How amazing is it that the Son dwelled completely in a body, that it was enough for him. Your will was fully contained, yet your bounds reached wholly to the Father. Blessed be he who, though without bounds, was bound!

Who can explain how, though you dwelled wholly in a body, you also dwelled wholly in all?

Your majesty is concealed from us, while your grace is revealed before us. I will be silent, O Lord of majesty, and I will tell of your grace. Your grace clung to you, while it bowed you down to our worst.

Your grace made you a baby, and your grace made you a man. Your grace straightened and enlarged your majesty. Blessed is the might that became little … and became great!

Glory to you who became lowly, though your nature is lofty. By your own will you became man, though you are God by nature. Blessed be your glory which put on our image!

Your hope brought new hope when ours had broken down. Blessed be the one who brought good news of hope!

Double was the happiness of those who saw your birth and your day, yet also happy are those who have not seen, but who have believed. Blessed is your happiness that is added to us!

Amen.