Listen

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born 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 new born 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 as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born 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 new born King!”

 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:10-14)

I love this old, classic Christmas song. This traditional song is rich in its content and points us to so many amazing truths about what God has done for us in Christ. There are a few reasons why I enjoy it so much.

First, it teaches us about who Christ is. From this song, we are reminded that Christ is our King, Christ is our everlasting Lord, He is God incarnate, Immanuel – God with us, the Prince of Peace, and the Son of Righteousness. Christmas is a time where we are reminded of truths that we desperately need. We need a King and an everlasting Lord. We desperately needed God to come in human form and live among us and redeem us. In Jesus - He did. We need God to be with us – and He is in Jesus. In a world of chaos, darkness, and anxiety, we need a Prince of Peace. In a world full of injustice and as human beings who daily wrestle with sin and its effects, we need a Son of Righteousness. For those of us who believe in Jesus, who are in Christ, the eternal Son of God is our righteousness. We are righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (Galatians 2:15-16), and we are now growing in righteousness as we walk with Christ. Jesus is these things for us – and He is wonderful.

Second, this song teaches us about what Christ has done for us. We are reminded that through Christ, God and sinners are now reconciled. We are reconciled to God – we have a relationship with Him (Romans 5:11). Jesus gives us true light in place of darkness, and life in place of death. The last stanza states:

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Jesus was born to destroy death (2 Tim. 1:10) and to give us eternal life. In Christ, we receive a second birth – which is a birth from God (John 1:12-13). We are new creations (2 Cor. 5:17) and are made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). Simply put, we are born again through Jesus (1 Peter 1:13). We have new life and the future hope of resurrection. Christ came to “raise the sons of earth.” In Him, we are raised to life, which we experience now and will experience in its fullness at a final, glorious bodily resurrection when Jesus returns.

Finally, this song leads us to adoration. In this song, we are called to worship. We are called to joyfully join the triumph of the skies – the praise of heaven. All of heaven rejoices in and adores Jesus, and we can join in that too. In a world full of darkness and despair, trial, and suffering, we can pursue joy as we worship the Christ that came for us. So, as this song call us to, let us hail and give glory to our great King and Lord, the Prince of Peace and Son of Righteousness!