And she brought forth her firstborn
son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke
2:7)
What a lovely scene of love and solitude this hymn evokes in those whose hearts
are conditioned to appreciate beauty and warmth. It is a Lutheran hymn whose
author remains a mystery. It has been suggested that this hymn was one which
Martin Luther wrote himself for his own children though this claim has never
been confirmed. It first appeared formally in 1887 in a songbook for children
entitled, “Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses.” The most
common tune to which the carol is sung is that composed by James R. Murray by
the same title. Of course, truly great hymns and carols actually have no
earthly author if composed, as Bach alleges, by the inspiration of God.
Furthermore, who cares whose name is on the title line as long as the intrinsic
beauty of the words and music are the most compelling aspect of the hymn?
The great benefit of these Christmas Hymn/Carols we have been studying is the
natural spirit and setting that they provide to the Gospel account of the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition to the intellectual understanding
conveyed in the Words of the Gospel, these Carols add a spiritual dimension
that enlarges our heart-knowledge of all that transpired in tiny little
Bethlehem that cold winter night. I can remember, from my earliest childhood
recollections, being entranced by the simple beauty of this, and all other,
carols of Christmas. As a toddler, I could not comprehend the gravity of what
transpired there, but the carols gave me a mystical curiosity that led to a
much deeper understanding as I matured in my faith.
It is quite conceivable that a stable would not be an ideal environment for a
child to be born. It most likely would violate many health and environmental
regulations in our day, but it was, nonetheless, the place that God chose for
His son to be born in order to demonstrate His intention of sharing in all
human experiences. When this carol was sung at church, I could, in my child’s
eye, envision the meager surroundings of the stable yard with a manger at center,
the precious mother holding and caressing her sweet baby, Joseph standing by in
awe of the sight along with the mute beasts of the field who were privileged to
be there too. There was likely the warm glow of a fire in the midst to provide
some warmth from the cold night air. That was it! A very simple scene, is it
not? Of course, all that Jesus ever did was the epitome of simplicity. He had a
stone for a pillow for his head, and the plain drab of the common man as His
apparel. He spoke in simple parables that the simple-minded could grasp greater
truths than elevated vocabulary could convey. He simply loved, and simply
lived. Let the words to this simple carol bypass your mind at present and sink,
first, into your heart:
Away
In A Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
Jesus began His life with no place to lay His head, except a wooden trough for
the feeding of cattle and sheep. He lived His life after the same fashion as
the Bread of Heaven (Life) to feed those others who, without Him, are no better
than the beasts of the field: “Foxes
have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where
to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58) “Away in a manger,
no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.”
It may have been far away in a manger both in time and geography for many of
us, but God came near at Christmas. Jesus is our Emmanuel to be with us
forevermore if we believe unto salvation. Time and distance are not obstacles
to God who exists beyond those worldly values.
“The stars (literally, angels) in the sky looked
down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.” Jesus
was once, in His humanness, as small as any baby alive. He was once a teenager,
and then a young man who gave His life for you and me in the fullness of His
manhood. But in His Godhead, He was ancient and timeless. He was with the
Father before the worlds were formed, and He was the executive engineer of
Creation. (John 1:1-3)
The sheep and cows round about never did an evil deed in their lives. They
consume only grass and hay and never kill for food. These were present at the
birth of Christ – perhaps not without reason. Perhaps even the rude beasts of
the field sensed the reverence and majesty of that night: “The cattle
are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;”
We all come into this world screaming for whatever will satisfy our insatiable
appetites. But Jesus had no selfish bone in His body. He was sinless from the
moment of conception. The cattle softly low, and the baby awakes, not out of
startled surprise, but out of the distant memory of when the world was formed
and He gave the breath of life to these lowing cattle. He REMEMBERED, just as
He remembers exactly how many hairs with which He has adorned every head of
mankind.
“I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my
cradle till morning is nigh.” How can we not help loving the Lord
Jesus who loved us long before we were conceived, and whose love will continue
in the Eternity of future days beyond our passing from this vale of tears.
He came and laid down His head on a crude instrument of wood (manger) for you
and me. He laid Himself down on another crude instrument of wood (a cross) at
the end of His earthly days to redeem us since we could not redeem ourselves.
And He has ascended into the heavenlies to be our Advocate with God the Father.
What love is this? “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1
John 4:19)
“Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and
love me, I pray;” A reminder: HIS NAME IS EMMANUEL!
How much nearer can God come to us than to abide with us, and in our hearts,
forever? Of course, He is a gentleman and never intrudes His presence where He
is not welcome. He awaits our invitation: “Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev
3:20) We do not need to ask Jesus to love us; He has already proven His
love for us. “Greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John
15:13)
“. . . bless all the dear children in thy tender care,.”
It is good that we pray the prayers of this little carol since we know
already that it is the perfect will of God to grant such petitions of love and
care. Jesus does, indeed, love the little children. Jesus used uncommonly
strong language to describe His love and favor for little children: “At
the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the
midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this
little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall
receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall
offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him
that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea.” (Matt 18:1-6)
“. . . and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.” We
must allow Jesus to “fit us for heaven” for that wonderful place for we
cannot fit ourselves. In fact, without His redeeming sacrifice, we are already
walking dead (zombies so to speak) who are destined for the eternal darkness. I
will close with these powerful verses of Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians:
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein
in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past
in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
(Eph 2:1-8)
Are you dead this Holiday Season, or is it truly the
CHRISTMAS SEASON you celebrate?
