Think of some of the Christmas hymns we sing each year. We know many of them by heart but may not have given much attention or thought to the words themselves. Like this line from “O Come, Let Us Adore Him”:
“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”
In hearing the line repeatedly this year, it has been striking me over and over, each time rooting a little deeper in my heart.
Jesus, the Logos, the Word of the Father. He was present at creation and all was created by the spoken word. Everything the Father desired and needed to say to us has been contained in the written Word. The Word of the Father still appeared in flesh to the very earth He created, by the power of His word.
As the one line of the song kept nudging away at me, one question began to grow increasingly larger in my mind – Why? Why is it important that we know and believe that Jesus became just like us in the flesh?
“Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – the Son, also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:14-15, NLT)
The Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing, because we, His children are flesh and blood. He came, like one of us, to break the power of the enemy over each of us so that we could live free.
Jesus, the Son of God and the Word of the Father, came as one of us so that He could live in our world and make available to each one of us the very life of God. He not only came to this earth but He now lives within us.
Jesus, the Son of God and the Word of the Father.
Divinity and humanity.
Wrapped in swaddling, lying in a manger.
“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”
Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Three Word Wednesday and Word Filled Wednesday and Women With Intention .
The Christmas carols we have sung since childhood are filled with theology – unfortunately the deep stuff is usually hidden in the third and fourth verses of the song and we miss them. Would it not be fun to do a whole December series on the carols and their messages!!!
Susan, I think the messages are hidden in the thief of familiarity. If we only pay attention to the words we are singing, we would be astonished. They are strikingly rich with meaning. xo
Christmas is just the most awesome season to teach theology to kids. Every year I grab one Christmas carol and use it for Sunday School opening each Sunday of Advent. We dissect the meaning of all those mysterious phrases that fall off our singing lips, and I’m hoping that the kids (and the grown ups) gain a deeper appreciation for the glorious truth of the incarnation as a result.
You’ve certainly done that for me this morning!
Michele, I love that idea! I bet no one ever sings the Christmas song quite the same after that. Familiarity so robs us of the beauty and richness in those Christmas hymns. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!