The following are the lyrics to Charles Wesley's 1739 song titled "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". The tune that we now know was later added by Felix Mendelssohn.
Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heaven adored Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"
Did you notice the many titles of Jesus listed in the song? Each of these titles describes something about Him, His character, and His work.
In the first verse, we are told that He is "King". Newborn, though He may be, King He already is. A king is "a male sovereign or monarch; the chief authority over a people". We see, too, that He is "Christ", which in Greek means, "the Messiah, or the Anointed One".
The second verse tells us that He is the "Everlasting Lord". He is the master who rules eternally. Jesus is the "Incarnate Deity", God who has taken on the flesh of man. He is also called "Emmanuel", which means "God with us".
The third and final verse reveals the He is the "Prince of Peace", which tells us that He will be the one to usher in peace on earth and that it will be an everlasting reality in His kingdom. Finally, Jesus is the "Son of Righteousness". He is the unique One of His Father. The only One who is able in and of himself to stand right and justified following God's judgment!
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Jesus Christ, the Lord. God? Yes. King? Yes. Everlasting? Yes.
Yet, though He holds these lofty titles, He willingly became low. Man? Yes. Humble? Yes. Mortal? Yes.
God's plan to rescue men from the hopeless state of sin and wrath that we were under required the ultimate act of humility on God's part...the Incarnation and the Crucifixion. Jesus became a man to become sin for you so that you might receive His righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21). Will you bow to the King of kings and serve Him today?
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