Friday, December 10, 2010

25 Days of Advent: Good Christian Men, Rejoice

I had no idea, before my little research, that this song was so old. The original lyrics, from which the English song was derived, were written in a mixture of Latin and German in the early 1300s. I kind of love that, you know? Little reminders that the worship and wonder of God has been around for a long, long time.


Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today.
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now:
Christ is born today, Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this.
He has opened heaven's door,
And man is blest forever more.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save;
Calls you one and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save!


Jesus Christ was born to save. Jesus said of himself, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." When Simeon held baby Jesus in the temple, he realized in wonder what lay in his arms and praised God, saying: "For my eyes have seen your salvation."

The helpless baby in the manger and the man who suffered and died on the cross are the same. The Christmas baby grew up to be the Easter Savior, the resurrected Christ. His was the ultimate fulfilled destiny.

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