King of the Carols - Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Born to Bless!

 

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 we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Our final verse of this wonderful carol reels of a list of six blessings Jesus came into the world to give us.

Light and Life

"Light and life he gives to all"

John says that Jesus is "the true light that gives light to everyone." (John 1:9). A deep and profound truth. It cannot mean that everyone that has ever lived has come to salvation, for that is not confirmed by the rest of Scripture. But in some way, everyone has been blessed by the Son of God. 

We experience the blessing of Jesus' light when we follow him, for he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of light." (John 8:12). 

Life as well as light, says the carol writer! "I have come" said Jesus, "that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10). We can never experience true life until we come to Jesus and experience his Spirit working through us. Jesus came not to load us with a thousand killjoy rules, but to set our hearts free with his easy yoke.

Healing and Freedom from Death 

Our jubilant carol writer, filled with joy, wants us to remember two more blessings:

Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die

One day our bodies will be healed. It is not a promise for this world, but a joy to look forward to. Some say its a believer's right in this world, quoting "By his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5). Our souls are healed by his stripes, for their sins are forgiven, and our bodies will be healed one day too. A friend of mine complained about his visits to an ageing relative. Every time he got "an organ recital" he said. Every faculty is in decline, says the writer of Ecclesiastes, as we grow old. But one day all of our organs will be renewed. Our bodies will not be patched up, but made new, just like the never dying resurrection body of Jesus.

Freedom from death! "Born that we no more may die." The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. We all deserve to die! And all who reject the Gospel will die twice. Their bodies will die and then their souls will die eternally. But those who believe will never experience the second death, though they may have to pass through the first one. 

Eternal Life and Second Birth

Born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth. 

So ends this edifying carol. Our final home is not here - let none of us forget. Jesus came to "raise us from the earth", to save us and then to take us home to his mansion of many rooms. 

Second birth is being born again by the Holy Spirit. It's a miraculous event that transforms our characters to such a degree that afterwards it can be said that we are new creatures. It takes place through "the living and enduring word of God." (1 Peter 1:23)

What a list of blessings! Light! Life! Healing! Escape from Death! Eternal life and Second Birth! And there are many more besides.  

And every one of them has come through the Lord Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, Crucified outside of Jerusalem, raised on the third day and reigning in heaven now! 

 A SONG FOR THE DAY
This new song says it, "In Christ Alone."

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our Father in heaven,

We echo the worship  of our carol's author, "hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King." We bring worship and adoration to Jesus Christ, heaven's King and thank you for the many blessings that have come through him.

Thank you that we no longer walk in the darkness of sin and ignorance.

Thank you that we have been given life abundant.

Thank you that our souls have been healed and we look forward to the compete healing of our bodies.

Thank you that we will never experience the second death.

Thank you for eternal life and thank you for a new heart.

Forgive us when we do not live in the light of such blessings and help us, by your indwelling Spirit to live holy and upright lives pleasing to you.

We ask this in Jesus' name,

Amen.