I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
... Yet He gave it all up to be born into this world.
I know I'm harping on the incredible awesomeness of the Incarnation, but it is the central theme of Christmas. The Light of the World, the Saviour of the World, the Creator of the World - born into a human body. Born into a tiny, helpless frame that got tired, hungry, hurt, and needed its diaper changed.
The magnitude of this event cannot be diminished. What other "god" has ever submitted to the weaknesses of humanity so completely? What other "god" did so out of a holy love for us? What other "god" lived with us in such purity and perfection that even His enemies had no charges against Him? What other "god" did all that, even knowing that His earthly destination was the Cross?
What other Person would give up everything, to live and die for a dirty, sinful, ungreatful and unloving people such as we are? He certainly was well within His rights simply to Judge us and give us our rightful due. But instead, He came to offer His mercy and grace, if we would only abandon ourselves and trust in Him. As the old hymn yearningly sings,
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!
Jesus came to this world so He could personally invite us, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, NKJV)
Come to the Savior who humbled Himself and became a helpless Baby, born on Christmas morn!
Ah, my beloved Lord and Savior - my Older Brother, my Father, my Comforter and Friend! How tender and gentle are Your mercies, how vast and deep is Your love for me! You baffle and astound me with the bounty and blessings You shower upon the people You love, the generosity and affection of a Holy God who delivers His people from their prison. All glory, honor, praise and power belong to You, for You are worthy beyond compare! Thank You, Lord Jesus, my Rock and my Redeemer!
If you've been reading this, have you considered submitting an entry to Adam's Carnival of Chirstmas? I hope you will!
First entry ... previous entry ... next entry
Another wonderful reminder. Thanks! (Feel free to download/hijack/post the midi file for "I Wonder..." that I posted at my place. It's a demo file from Roland corporation freely distributed to showcase their Soundcanvas products/patches, but since most Windows computers now have a subset of those patches installed along with Windows, it should sound decent, at least, on most computers manufacured since about 2000.
Posted by: David | December 05, 2005 at 09:42 AM
Years ago, Ed Ames sang a beautiful version of "I Wonder As I Wander." Have you ever heard it?
I know the music for each piece you've posted so far. Many young people today do not. What a shame!
Every year, I am surprised that many of my piano students don't have a clue about much of the religious Christmas music, though they know some of the secular ones. Worse, some of my piano students don't want to play anything but the secular pieces. Christmas is not secular!
Contemporary Christian music is all fine and well, but these hymns and carols you're posting are so Scripturally sound and, secondarily, a part of Western culture.
Posted by: Always On Watch | December 05, 2005 at 04:53 PM