Merry Christmas!

The Nativity by Gerard van Honthorst (1590-1656)

Savior of the nations, come;
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.

From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!

Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.

This song has an interesting history: the version above is the one that everyone knows and sings. The piece was originally written in Latin by Ambrose of Milan, circa 397 A.D. (Ve­ni Re­demp­tor gen­ti­um). Many different people have translated the work over the years, the most famous of whom is Martin Luther (1523). Then, in 1851, William M. Reynolds translated the piece from Martin Luther's German into English, and this is the result. There are several other versions of the song - a couple transferred from the Latin directly into English, and I think there's at least one more version of the Latin-to-German-to-English.

Even more important than the song's history, though, is its meaning: God the Father sent Christ the Son to earth as the Word become flesh. Christ's entry to this world and his very purpose for being here - to overcome death and hell on our behalf - is both an example to us of true humility and a cause for rejoicing. It is because of our Savior that we give praises to God. I pray that your faith is strengthened through this 2008 Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!