Project 119: Heaven and Nature Sing | Matthew 2 and Hebrews 2:5-18
| Project 119 | Mary Splawn
Reading for Monday, December 28: Matthew 2 and Hebrews 2:5-18
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
"O Holy Night"
On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden became the first man to transmit his voice over radio waves. He did so to ships in the Atlantic Ocean owned by United Fruit Company. During his broadcast, he read Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the Highest...” and he played “O Holy Night” on his violin. Ship captains were amazed at this Christmas miracle of hearing a voice on the airwaves for the first time.
The Magi were another group who were amazed by a Christmas miracle. This second stanza of “O Holy Night” reminds us that these men were captivated by a new star that appeared for the first time to pronounce the birth of a king. They followed this light wave all the way to Bethlehem where they found Jesus, the King of Kings.
Matthew 2 tells us that when they saw Jesus, they bowed down and worshiped Him. This song reminds us of two striking theological messages. Jesus is our friend who knows our weakness, and He is also our Lord. Sometimes we want to see Jesus as our friend in the chummy kind of way, but He is not our equal. A friend yes, but He is the kind of friend who is also a King.
In the greatest act of submission, Jesus became human and took on all the frailties and temptations of a human. And because He understands our condition and yet was without sin (Hebrews 2:14-18), we recognize that He is to be revered as Lord and King. On the cross He paid the price for our redemption, and now we bear witness to His saving grace by seeking to glorify Him with our lives.
As the Magi bowed low, it is fitting for us to bend our hearts and examine the areas of our lives that need to be submitted to Jesus. What areas are you tempted to say that Jesus just doesn’t understand? Take a moment to bring your burdens and anxious thoughts to the Lord. Ask Him to illuminate your path with His light and to speak peace and lordship over your circumstances in such a way that you experience the good news of Jesus’ love, grace, and forgiveness, as if for the very first time.