Angels from the Realms of Glory
With just three days before we celebrate Christmas, let’s take a look at a classic worship song written by James Montgomery (1771-1854). It is a song that gives a brief, zoomed-out perspective of the night Jesus was born and his destiny, and with more reflection, we have something personal to respond to:
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn king.
Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.
Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.
This story is a historical telling of the first coming of God, but I also see it as a powerful, personal invitation addressed to you to see yourself in the advent of Jesus Christ.
In the verses above, you can identify all characters that were present the night Jesus was born—Angels, who have seen and experienced things we can only imagine, came from another realm to worship. Hard working, often-forgotten shepherds were elevated above their status to come see and worship Him. The sages of earth were led to Him and found Him worthy. Everything the saints ever hoped and prayed for was suddenly shown to them. Prodigals and wayward brothers and sisters were shown, as the Psalmist writes, what it looks like when mercy, truth, justice, and peace kiss.
The question is: Were you at the advent of Jesus? Are you the shepherd striving and willing your way through life and in need of rest and provision? Are you the sage intellectual with a proclivity for earthly wisdom and truth, who desires everlasting truth and wisdom? Are you the committed saint, who is full of faith, longing for a manifestation of the Lord’s presence and glory? Are you the sinner gripped by conviction, sensing things aren’t how they’re supposed to be, and humbled by the incarnation of true mercy and justice, in Jesus?
The words of the song above are historical, but they are contemporary, and even more, they are the destiny of all creation. Because all nations will gather, every knee will bow, and all creation—including you—will join in praising Him.
So, regardless of who you decide you are or where you are coming from, Jesus invites you to His Christmas party. The advent of Jesus is a personal invitation to YOU to come see for yourself what peace, truth, wisdom, glory, love, and justice looks like, in the flesh.
-Zack Byler