Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Listen to this modern version of this Christmas carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we begin our journey through this Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s think about this.
Without
Without, and within.
Those are the two seemingly less important words that really jumped out at me as I pondered these words. Jesus left behind riches without number to be born within a cattle stall. He knew no limitations and still He subjected Himself to some. Can you grasp that? I know I certainly struggle to even try.
Yet Jesus did not grasp or hold on to all the rights, privileges and riches that were His. Instead He let go of them to take the form of a servant, though He was the King and Lord. Not only are we not able to fathom the numberless riches, neither are we capable of the thought of releasing them. Jesus is capable of both, and so much more.
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 ESV
We can not fathom the glory that Jesus left behind when He was born an infant who would sleep in a feed trough. The difference between what He deserved and what He endured is shocking, but it is a good reminder of what Jesus did, and the example it gave us to follow.
Jesus chose to walk a different path so we could choose to do the same, though opposite. He left splendor for humility, making a way for us to leave sadness for gladness. He shows us a different way of living is possible, then invites us into one as different as ir is imaginable.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and ponder all that Jesus left behind to come to us. He invites us to leave somethings behind as well, so we can be without: without sin, without sadness, without sorrow. Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, thank You for showing me a different path is possible.”
Within
He was born within a cattle stall to demonstrate His willingness to make the long journey to come to us. But not only to be with us, but within us.
There is a HUGE difference.
How would the one who is Lord of all show us that He is willing to come and take us residence within us? He came as a baby who would be laid in a lowly place. This proves He is willing to make His dwelling is us.
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 ESV
Here again is the everlasting wonder of God coming to be one of us so that He could be acquainted with our sufferings. All the while He remained the Lord of all. What a wonder that He would condescend so! He is familiar with everything we face. Give Him praise for this truth.
I am not certain what is more wonderful. That Christ who was the Lord of all was born in such a lowly estate, or that a baby born in such a place could simultaneously be Lord of all. My feeble mind struggles with either idea, yet marvels at the everlasting wonder of both.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider how Jesus went without, so He could live within. Think of what He left behind, what He comes to and the difference that makes for you. All demonstrated through His advent. Pray simply, “Jesus, help me marvel at the wonder of Your birth.“
Lord, thank You for going without riches so that You could come live within us. It is difficult for us to imagine what that must have been like, and still is like every time you come to dwell within a humble soul. In Jesus name. Amen.
Worshipful Thinking!
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Podcast 35.3 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 ESV
Come to taste our sadness. What an interesting thought. Jesus came to taste the condition our sin had created. He came to become intimately familiar with it. His glories knew no end yet He came to experience the ugliness of humanity, and experience it He did, even to death.
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 ESV
Jesus asks Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus if she believes. That is the crux of the matter. These things are true, but the real issue for us is whether we will believe them or not. If we do, His life brings us gladness we can barely even begin to imagine. Hallelujah!
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 ESV
We can not fathom the glory that Jesus left behind when He was born an infant who would sleep in a feed trough. The difference between what He deserved and what He endured is shocking, but it is a good reminder of what Jesus did, and the example it gave us to follow.
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 ESV
Here again is the everlasting wonder of God coming to be one of us so that He could be acquainted with our sufferings. All the while He remained the Lord of all. What a wonder that He would codescend so! He is familiar with everything we face. Give Him praise for this truth.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
he whose glories knew no end;
by his life he brings us gladness,
our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
born within a cattle stall;
this the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Without and Within, What a Wonder! appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
Leaving riches without number, born within a cattle stall; – https://www.soifixmyeyes.com/blog/a-christmas-prayer
this the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all. – https://dailymedit.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/the-king-of-salvation/
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