One of my favorites is "O Holy Night" and as I was trying to run all my errands in one go, with three kids in tow, the girls began singing this song. And I was struck, not for the first time, but in a more profound way, that we do know theology, we sing it every year.
Here is an example- these verses are from the second stanza;
The King of Kings lay in a lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Those three verses sum up two amazing theological points, the first is that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. He was the King of Kings and he was born to a woman. In Philippians 2: 7 we see that Jesus "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." Jesus was equal to God, and also a man.
The second is that Jesus, our God, knows by experience the trials and temptations of this life. Hebrews 2:4 says, "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." God knows us. Our God lived, suffered, died and rose into heaven. That's it. That's theology. Even at Christmas.
The best part about "O Holy Night," is the verse following the ones above,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Our reaction to theology, to talking about God, should be worship. When we see King Jesus, whether depicted as a babe in the manger or a man on the cross, our first impulse should be to worship.
So this Christmas, as we rush all around (or if your lucky, stay home), remember that He is our King, He knows us, and He is worthy of all worship.
Our reaction to theology, to talking about God, should be worship. When we see King Jesus, whether depicted as a babe in the manger or a man on the cross, our first impulse should be to worship.
So this Christmas, as we rush all around (or if your lucky, stay home), remember that He is our King, He knows us, and He is worthy of all worship.
