You know how it happens. You're minding your own business and all the sudden eternity crashes in. Listening to our church choir and orchestra perform their Christmas musical on Sunday, an unconsidered line from “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” sprung to life in my mind.

Born that man no more may die.

Those unacquainted with Christian theology find therein one more reason to think the Kingdom of God is crazy. “Of course we die!,” they’d accurately assert. That is true, but physical death isn’t the only death. In writing this carol, Charles Wesley was not referring to the heart stilled from beating.

Jesus Christ isn't just a figurine at the center of a Nativity scene, he was born that man no more may die. In his sacrificial death, he died for all who commit their lives to follow him. He died. The just for the unjust. Once and for all. To bring us to God. And in Christ’s death there is victory.

O death, where is your victory? O grave, where is thy sting? Death’s sting is sin. Sin’s strength is in the Law. But Jesus, born to be our Savior, gives us victory over death and sin—thanks be to God—and he invites us to die.

We’ll all die physically. Yet, in our sin, we are already dead spiritually. Our sin separates us—eternally—from God. Jesus invites us to confess our sin, repent turning from our sin, and commit our lives to follow him. Jesus invites us to die to our sinful selves in order that we might gain eternal, abundant life in him.

Truly, in trusting Jesus, we see this great reversal that for us to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Jesus was born that we no more might die. Jesus died that we might be free.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!”

If you’d like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus and the eternal, abundant life mentioned here, then please contact me.

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