Special Emmaus City Advent Liturgy | Sunday, December 7, 2014
Jesus Is Our Peace: The Whole Christmas Story
God the Father Tells the Whole Christmas Story to Us
On the evening of Saturday, December 6, I was meditating on what I had prepared for my sermon for the theme of peace during the second week of Advent, when God decided to pull the curtain back a bit more on the glory of His Son and reshape what I should share with Emmaus City the next morning.
I was coming to a close of a weekend where I was taking care of three of my oldest kids solo and He decided with the mischief of a loving Father to change the plans. So Saturday evening turned into Sunday morning and reveling in the "Whole Christmas Story."
That's cool. He's God. He wanted to share a bit more about His Son with His children and I was game to trust that His Spirit made the move for His good purposes.
Below is a simplified liturgy with three of the songs we sang around the homily this past Sunday. Who knows? Maybe this will be an Advent tradition for Emmaus City for years to come.
In any case, may this great story in prose and poetry continue to cause each of us to stop and wonder about how only God could bring His Word to us in the form of a baby in a stable in order to begin to reshape the world while He quietly spoke peace to our unstable hearts.
God the Son Lives the Whole Christmas Story for Us
"Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth.
Then read Genesis 1-3. Then read Revelation 12. Then throw in Romans 16:20 for
good measure. That's the whole Christmas story. It's not simply the poetic and
sweet story of a child's birth, welcomed by stars and angels. It's a cosmic war
story. A conflict between fundamental forces of good and evil. As Mary labored
in a place far from home, heaven and hell thundered and took up arms. Remember
that all of it—Jesus' condescension as a baby, his birth in a filthy stable,
his sleep in a manger—reminds us of the muck he found us in. Remember, too,
that the Christ-child's birth caused hell to erupt with fury. Remember that
their resistance was futile. And remember, most of all, that the violence and
humiliation of Christmas happened because God loved us enough to suffer all of
it on our behalf and by our side." – Mike Cosper
Genesis 1:1-5, 26; 2:15-18, 21-25; 1:27-28; 3:1-15
1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. … 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” … 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Psalm 83:1; 39:12; 85:8
Genesis 1:1-5, 26; 2:15-18, 21-25; 1:27-28; 3:1-15
1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. … 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” … 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Psalm 83:1; 39:12; 85:8
83:1 O God,
do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! ... 39:12 Hear my
prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold
not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. … 85:8 Let me
hear what God the Lord will speak, for he
will speak peace to his people,
to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.
Genesis 15:1-2, 5-6, 12-15; 17:3-7
15:1 After
these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram,
I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But
Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless
… 5 And (God) brought him
outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to
number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he
believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. … 12 As the sun was going
down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell
upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that
is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four
hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment
on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great
possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go
to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. … 17:3 Then
Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold,
my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.
5 No longer shall your name
be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father
of a multitude of nations. 6 I will
make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings
shall come from you. 7 And I
will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you
throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and
to your offspring after you.”
Luke 1:26-38, 46-55
1:26 In the
sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, 27 to a
virgin betrothed to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he
came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she
was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting
this might be. 30 And the
angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold,
you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus. 32 He will
be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he
will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no
end.” 34 And Mary
said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the
angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be
called holy—the Son of God. 36 And
behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and
this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For
nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary
said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to
me according to your word.” … 46 And Mary
said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he
has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For
behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he
who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy
is his name. 50 And his
mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation. 51 He has
shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of
their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and
exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry
with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant
Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to
Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Isaiah
9:6-7
9:6 For to
us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his
shoulder,
and his name shall be
called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his
government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the
throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with
justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal
of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Micah 5:2-5
Micah 5:2-5
5:2 But you,
O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from
you shall come forth for me one who
is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old, 3 from
ancient days. 3 Therefore
he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given
birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return to the
people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the
strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the
name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be
great
to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their
peace.
Luke 2:1-7
2:1 In those
days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be
registered. 2 This was
the first registration when Quirinius was governor of
Syria. 3 And all
went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the
city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
lineage of David, 5 to be
registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And
while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she
gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid
him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Revelation 12:1-5
12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron …
Luke 2:8-20
8 And in
the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their
flock by night. 9 And an
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the
angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. 11 For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this
will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and
lying in a manger.” 13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God
and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among
those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the
angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let
us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord
has made known to us.” 16 And they
went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when
they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this
child. 18 And all
who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary
treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen, as it had been told them. …
“‘Glory
to God in the highest’ proclaims that there is something higher than the height
of our sin. God reigns supreme over all, and God will not allow evil to succeed
here in his world. ... the most relevant message to this sin-ruined world was,
is and always will be, ‘Glory to God in the highest.’ Our whole problem is our
God-neglect. But the best news for sinners like you and me is that, whatever we
might do, God is still God, God is glorious, and God’s glory is supreme overall
all other realities. And when his glorious kingdom is finally consummated, then
there will be perfect peace on earth, good will toward men … The peace God
gives is the direct answer to our most human yearnings. And the vital thing to
see is that this peace flows out of ‘Glory to God in the highest.’ … (Richard
Sibbes) ‘God hath joined these two together as one chief end and good. The one,
that he might be glorified. The other, that we might be happy. And both these
are attained by honoring and serving him. … Thus our happiness and God’s chief
end agree together. … What a sweetness is this in God, that in seeking our own
good we would glorify him.’ Here today the sweetness of God is visiting us
again, as with the shepherds so long ago. He
is calling us to receive with thankful joy our Savior. He is calling us to join
in the heavenly celebration, that we might be happy as he is glorified. God has
come to us in Christ to bring glory to himself in the highest as he grants us
peace here in our lives. What can we do but rejoice?” – Ray
Ortlund
Luke 2:25-35
25 Now
there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous
and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon
him. 26 And it
had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before
he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he
came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child
Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his
arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are
letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen
your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory
to your people Israel.” 33 And his
father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is
appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is
opposed 35 (and a
sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many
hearts may be revealed.”
Ephesians 2:13-22
13 But now
in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood
of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one
and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of
commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new
man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us
both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached
peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both
have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then
you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone, 21 in whom
the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord. 22 In him
you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the
Spirit.
Revelation 12:9-17
9 And the
great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and
Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his
angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I
heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the
kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser
of our brothers has been
thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they
have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore,
rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea,
for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his
time is short!” 13 And when
the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman
who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the
woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the
serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a
time, and times, and half a time. 15 The
serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep
her away with a flood. 16 But the
earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and
swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the
dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of
her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the
testimony of Jesus. …
Romans 16:20
16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your
feet.
The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
John 1:1-5
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
God the Spirit Sings the Whole Christmas Story with Us
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus lyrics and melody
By Red Mountain Music
Stanzas 1 and 4 by Charles Wesley, 1745 A.D.
Stanzas 2 and 3 by Mark E. Hunt, 1978 A.D.
“So if the Son sets you
free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see Thee,
Joy to those who long to see Thee,
Day-spring from on high, appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,
Of thy birth, we long to hear.
O’er the hills the angels singing
News, glad tidings of a birth.
“Go to him, thy praises bringing:
Christ the Lord has come to earth!”
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end!
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend!
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the ever-lasting wonder:
Christ was born the Lord of all!
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king;
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring!
By Thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
“And let the peace of Christ rule
in your hearts, to which
indeed you were called in one body.” – Colossians 3:15
O Come O Come Emmanuel lyrics and melody
By Future of Forestry
Original by Unknown
8th century A.D.
“’Behold, the virgin
shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel’ (which means, God with us).
… There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his
roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him … In
that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples – of him shall the nations inquire ...” – Isaiah 7:14; 11:1-2, 10
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive
Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny,
From depths of Hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
(Chorus Repeat)
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
(Chorus Repeat)
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
(Chorus Repeat)
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In One the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace!
(Chorus Repeat)
“For (Jesus) himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” – Ephesians 2:14-17
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny,
From depths of Hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
(Chorus Repeat)
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
(Chorus Repeat)
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
(Chorus Repeat)
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In One the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace!
(Chorus Repeat)
“For (Jesus) himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.” – Ephesians 2:14-17
Original by Charles Wesley
1739 A.D.
“'Glory to God in the
highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”– Luke 2:14
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 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, the incarnate Deity:
Pleased with us in flesh 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,
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 them second birth!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7
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 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, the incarnate Deity:
Pleased with us in flesh 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,
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 them second birth!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” – Isaiah 9:6-7
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