Incarnation Hymns

Most Christmas carols and songs, especially the ones our people like to sing the most, recall the people and events surrounding Jesus' birth. We sing of angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, the stable, Bethlehem, Wise Men, and all the familiar details. We don't really think too much about the doctrine or theology of Jesus' birth, unless prodded to do so by Scripture, a sermon, or a Sunday school lesson.

The doctrine of Incarnation teaches that the entire nature and work of God took on human form in the person of Jesus. Jesus was at the same time fully human and fully divine. It is the first and prerequisite doctrine of the Christian faith, without which the rest of our doctrines cannot stand. The word "incarnation" does not appear in the New Testament, but the idea or concept is found in numerous places.

• John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and lived among us."
• Hebrews 1:1-4 God reveals, speaks, and creates through Jesus. Jesus is "the exact imprint" of God.
• Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus, though in the form of and equal with God, took on human form, even to the point of death. Jesus is to be worshiped as Lord in heaven and on earth.
• 2 Corinthians 5:19 "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself."

Amid all of the wonderful and rich stories, symbols, and images of the Christmas songs and hymns, we can also find references and teachings of the Incarnation. It's interesting to pull out these kernels of incarnational theology found in the hymns and songs of The United Methodist Hymnal (numbers under 2000) and The Faith We Sing (numbers over 2000):

• Jesus is the "incarnate Word." (UMH 61, "Come, Thou Almighty King")
• We are to render in thanks our lives to Jesus ("Incarnate Deity") for redeeming grace. (UMH 88, "Maker in Whom We Live")
• Jesus, "Word of God, come down on earth," brings faith, hope, and love unending. Jesus brought creation to life and brings salvation. (UMH 182, "Word of God, Come Down on Earth")
• "If we have seen him (Jesus), we have seen the Father." (UMH 188, "Christ Is the World's Light")
• "God, in Christ, has come to stay." (UMH 192, "There's a Spirit in the Air")
• Jesus is "God with us, revealed in us" ( UMH 204, "Emmanuel, Emmanuel")
• Mary recognized "little Jesus, Infant Divine, one with the Father, yet born to be mine." (235, "Rock-a-Bye, My Dear Little Boy")
• It is in the birth of Jesus that "God and sinners [are] reconciled." It is in Jesus that we see "the God-headveiled in flesh." (UMH 240, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,")
• Scripture stores the "gems of truth" and "heaven-drawn pictures of Christ," who is the "Word of God incarnate." (UMH 598, "O Word of God Incarnate")
• Jesus was born, not to the powerful and wealthy, but to the poor; not to those in safe places, but to those in risk and disgrace. Jesus did not seek the spotlight or popularity of the crowd or critics, but chose obscurity. Jesus was entertained, not by the rich, but by those who could not afford gifts. (TFWS 2094, "Carol of the Epiphany")
• God came humbly, as an "unexpected infant." (TFWS 2060, "God the Sculptor of the Mountains")
• He came that we may have love, peace, and joy forevermore. (TFWS 2085, "He Came Down")
• Who are we that "God should take frail flesh and die?" (TFWS 2083, "My Song Is Love Unknown")
• Jesus is a child of heaven and a child of earth, the "go-between of God" and "heaven's lightning rod." (TFWS 2095, "Star-Child")
• Jesus came from God's glorious kingdom to be born as Mary's baby boy. (TFWS 2098, "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy")
• Jesus set aside his heavenly throne and crown for his lowly, humble, human birth and life on earth. (TFWS 2100, "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne")

It is easy at Christmas to recall only the story. It is easier to be lulled and comforted by the traditions and customs of the season, the familiarity and beauty of the carols, and the warmth and flood of memories and heartfelt emotions that often come. But it is also important for us to remember and reaffirm our faith in this most central and foundational principle of our faith the Incarnation:
"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human." (UMH 880, "The Nicene Creed")