This is a modern arrangement of this hymn, but Michael W. Smith is a wonderful composer/arranger/singer, and this cut from his album, Christmastime (1998), is just beautiful. Here are the words:
Child in the manger, Infant of Mary, (music file of MWS's arrangement)
Outcast and Stranger, Lord of all,
Child Who inherits all our transgressions,
All our demerits on Him fall.
Once the most holy Child of salvation
Gently and lowly lived below.
Now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious o’er each foe.
Prophets foretold Him, Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him on His throne.
Worthy our Savior of all our praises;
Happy forever are His own.
A simple song, but full of the richness and wonder that is the Christ Child.
He was an outcast and a stranger in His life. Just think of it: God Himself, living with His creations - and as one of them! That's definitely the recipe for being a "stranger in a strange land."
"But wait!" you say. "Why was He outcast?"
Ladies and gentlemen, think about human nature. When you have an acquaintance who is bright, eloquent, witty, kind, popular and so on, far in excess of your own attributes, isn't there always some small nugget of envy in your heart? I know it's true for me; it's something I've been learning to conquer.
Now, look at Jesus. He's never impatient. He's kind. He's always right. He's the joy of His parents. He never does anything wrong. He's obedient. He's punctual, respectful, knowledgeable... He's perfect! He is a living example of how everyone ought to live - and how no one can.
Oh, yes. I think that made Him an outcast, and I daresay I'm only scratching the surface. Do you remember when Jesus calmed the storm?
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Or how about the time when He made all the fish in the Sea of Galilee jump into Peter's boat?
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
They "feared exceedingly"? "Depart from me"?! When we are confronted with the truly Holy - with God Himself - it strikes terror into our hearts, unless He tenderly touches us and says, "It is I, do not be afraid."
And He came for us. Certainly His glory is revealed in His mercy - of course! But He came to take on all our transgressions, all our demerits, all the eternal penalties for our sins upon Himself. He came to pay the debt a guilty people could not. He came to truly set us free! Indeed,
Worthy our Savior of all our praises;
Happy forever are His own.
One morning, two thousand years ago, the Great I AM stepped out of Eternity and into our world. The life He lived showed forth His glory and demonstrated His love for all mankind to see and to marvel at.
One morning, two thousand years ago, the cry of a Baby born in a manger heralded the penultimate chapter of Redemption's story.
Christmas morning.
(Please don't forget to get your submissions in to Adam for the Carnival of Christmas!)
First post .. previous post ... next post
