Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he laid, the little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my cradle til morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and take us to heaven, to live with Thee there. One of the problems with Christmas is that it can easily become too sentimental. This can even happen when we focus on the Christmas story. It’s about peace and love, and the warmth of the stable, and the animals there with Joseph and Mary, and—“Why, look at that. The baby doesn’t even cry when he wakes up.” I’m pretty sure baby Jesus did cry when he woke up, cold and hungry and lying in a cattle trough, just as I’m sure that Mary felt the pains of childbirth and groaned literally, as Paul says our fallen creation does metaphorically. But even in a sentimental carol like “Away in a Manger” we are reminded of the very unsentimental work Jesus has come to do. Jesus came to make us like himself. His redemptive project is also transformative. We will be transformed until we are conformed to his image, and the creation will be transformed until all traces of evil have been wiped away. Then we will be fit for heaven, and heaven will be fit for us.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 10:36:36 +0000
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