To view the entire 2011 Christmas Carol Advent check out our Christmas Carol Advent index page.
Video
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d5syaGARzc
Story Behind the Song
Written by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, A Christmas Hymn first appeared on Amy Grant’s first Christmas CD appropriately titled “A Christmas Album.” It was released in 1983.
Commentary & Analysis
This modern day hymn written by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith captures the majesty of Christmas and the redeeming work of Christ. The song begins with a reminder that the coming of Christ to die for our sins was the ultimate demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16). In coming to take on human flesh, Christ left his throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to be born as a baby in a manger.
One minor issue I have with this song comes in the second verse that proclaims “All creation praised him.” Indeed, at some point in the future every knee shall bow (Romans 14:11), but when Jesus came the Bible is clear that he came to his own and they did not know him (John 1:11). Perhaps they had something else in mind when they wrote this verse, but at his first coming all of God’s creation did not praise him.
The third through fifth verses address not Christmas, but the ultimate purpose in Christ’s coming to earth in human form – to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and conquer Satan (Colossians 2:25) and death (Hosea 13:14). By his death, and by accepting the payment of our sins that he made on the cross, we become the adopted sons of God (Ephesians 1:5) and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Questions for further Reflection / Devotion
The following questions are meant for your reflection and or devotion. Feel free to meditate on them, discuss them with your family or others or post your responses here. I would love to hear from you.
- Do you live like a son of God and co-heir of Christ? If so, how? If not, what could you change to live that way?
- As a Christian, how do you view those who walked with, and talked with, Christ but did not accept him as Lord? How should you feel towards those people?
- Take some time to meditate on the love of God. In what ways has he demonstrated that love to you in the last week?
- Do you ever wrestle with the fear of death? How do you deal with that? What role does Christ play in overcoming that fear?
- The last line of the fifth verse of the song proclaims “Christ’s righteousness our worth.” Where else are you finding your worth other than in Christ? What steps should you take today to correct that?
Lyrics
Praise to God whose love was shown
Who sent his son to earth
Jesus left his rightful throne
Became a man by birth
The virgin’s baby son
All creation praised him
God incarnate come
Come to Bethlehem
Still a higher call had he
Deliverance from our sins
Come to set all people free
From Satan’s hold within
For by the sin of man we fell
By the son of god
He crushed the power of hell
Death we fear no more
Now we stand with strength, with power
The sons of God on earth
Faithful to the final hour
Christ’s righteousness our worth
And now all praise is given
For the babe, the son
The savior king is risen
Christ is lord indeed
For the babe, the son
The savior king is risen
Christ is lord indeed
Christ is lord indeed