Proclaiming the Messiah’s arrival

LINDSAY MAST, HOST: Up next: the music of Christmas.

Throughout December we’ve introduced you to some of the music of Advent…melodic meditations on God’s promises, on waiting for prophecy to come to pass, and on hope.

Today Bonnie Pritchett brings us a few selections celebrating what we’ve been waiting for—the birth of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

SINGERS: Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn king…

BONNIE PRITCHETT: Inspired by the pealing bells of Christmas morning, hymn-writer Charles Wesley composed the poem: “Hymn for Christmas Day” published in 1739.

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

SINGERS: Joyful all ye nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies. With angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem...

In today’s hymnals, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” represents the literary collaboration of Wesley and his friend and fellow preacher George Whitfield. A century later the song was paired with a cantata by composer Felix Mendelssohn.

This 2024 release features the Choir of King’s College and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble.

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

SINGERS: Mild he lays his glory by. Born that man may no more die. Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing. Glory to the newborn king…

Wesley’s hymn calls the world to listen to the angels’ proclamation.

SING WE THE SONG OF EMMANUEL

SINGER: Sing we the song of Emmanuel…

In their 2019 release “Sing We The Song of Emmanuel” songwriters Matt Boswell and Matt Papa call Christians to join the angelic chorus.

SING WE THE SONG OF EMMANUEL

SINGERS: God Most High in a manger laid. Lift your voices and now proclaim. Great and glorious, Love has come to us. Join now with the hosts of heaven…

And proclamation leads to adoration at the staggering realization that God is with us.

SING WE THE SONG OF EMMANUEL

SINGERS: Come we to welcome Emmanuel. King who came with no crown or throne. Helpless he lay, the Invincible. Maker of Mary, now Mary’s son. O what wisdom to save us all. Shepherds, sages, before Him fall. Grace and majesty, what humility. Come on bended knee. Come adore him…

And salvation stirs even more proclamation. We must go and tell.

SING WE THE SONG OF EMMANUEL

SINGERS: Glory, shining for all to see. Hope alive, let the gospel ring. God has made a way. He will have the praise. Tell the world his name is Jesus…

The long-promised Messiah finally came. And he had the name: Jesus.

LO, HOW A ROSE E’ER BLOOMING

Prophecies had described the Messiah. What he would be like. What he would do.

The prophet Isaiah described him this way: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from the roots shall bear fruit.”

MUSIC

The hymn “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” uses Isaiah’s imagery to describe the birth of Jesus. The song begins: “Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung. Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as those of old have sung.”

This 2012 instrumental version is courtesy of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

MUSIC

The two-verse song was first published in a 1599 German hymnal – its author unknown. Verses added since then continue the metaphor of Christ as a rose: “This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God, from sin and death he saves us and lightens every load.”

For WORLD, I’m Bonnie Pritchett. Merry Christmas.

EICHER: As with the rest of this month’s music, we’ll add today's features to our Spotify playlist. You can find the link in today’s transcript. And if you’re listening on Spotify: search for WORLD Radio Advent 2024.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.