Listen to the Wondrous Story

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:8-11, KJV).

How many times have you heard that story? How many times have you heard Linus recite those exact lines at the end of Charlie Brown Christmas? How many times have you actually listened to it?

There is a wonder to the Christmas story that we often miss because it's familiar. It's captured in so many Christmas songs: "I wonder as I wander out under the sky why Jesus the Savior did come for to die." "What Child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping?" "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." "How many kings stepped down from their thrones?"

Christmas is about the Incarnation. God Himself taking on human flesh, human weakness, human emotions, human temptation, human suffering. That should floor us. That, in and of itself, should utterly destroy us. I started crying as I typed that and considered the implications of it. Based purely on the miracle of the Incarnation alone, we should be in awe of the wonder of the God we serve.

But Christmas isn't just about the Incarnation. It's so much more than that. We can't fully appreciate the wonder of Christmas without looking ahead. First, we look ahead to the ministry of Jesus on earth, as He walked this earth and brought healing and hope to His people. Then, we look ahead to the suffering and death of Christ on the cross as He shed His blood to forgive us and free us from the sins that we so often cling to. And then we look ahead to the resurrection and the new creation and eternal life with our Savior. All of that is contained in a little baby boy lying in a manger. When was the last time that you listened closely enough to the Christmas story to catch all of that?

This hymn, Listen to the Wondrous Story, was written in 1867 by Ellin Isabelle Tupper, and it is set to the tune Amara, by William O. Perkins.

Listen to the Wondrous Story

 Listen to the wondrous story,

How upon the Christmas morn

Jesus left the realms of glory,

As a little babe was born;

Left those bright and happy regions

Of His Father's home above,

And the glorious angel legions,

In His great and boundless love!

Came into a lowly manger,

Dwelt beneath a humble shed,

And among His own a stranger

Knew not where to lay His head;

Went from city unto city,

All His life was doing good,

Weeping o'er His friend with pity,

When beside the grave He stood.

Love all human love exceeding

Brought Him to a cruel death,

Even then, though hanging, bleeding

On the cross, His latest breath

Spent He for His murderers, praying

To His Father to forgive;

To the thief repentant saying,

"Thou in paradise shalt live!"

Oh! What love in God the Father

To  bestow His only Son;

Oh! What love in Christ, who rather

Than the world should be undone,

Came Himself to seek and save us,

Came to claim us for His own;

Freely all our sins forgave us,

Raised us to His glorious throne!

(Public Domain)