Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
This is Joni Eareckson Tada and I invite you to sing with me this beautiful song,
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king;”
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born king.”
I hope you were singing along there, because this has got to be my favorite Christmas carol of all time. Actually, I wish there had been an opportunity to do all three verses because to be honest, it’s the last verse that really gets my spirit soaring:
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.
You know there’s a reason that verse means so much to me because there is not a time I sing those words, “Risen with healing in His wings” that I don’t choke up. Because there was a time – many years ago – that I thought that verse meant Jesus would heal me, heal me physically. It was the first Christmas I got out of the hospital, it was my first visit home, I was depressed, I was frightened. And I was sitting in church that Christmas Eve and we sang this carol, and when I got to that third verse, I thought, I’m sure this Christmas season I’ll get up out of my wheelchair risen with healing in His wings.
Little did I know at that time that in due time, God would heal me, but on a level I never dreamed, because two years later, on another Christmas, I found peace. I found contentment. I found joy, simply because I had embraced His will for my life. And what is His will? That you and I be in the best position, the best place, the most timely circumstance in which God can be glorified the most. And for me it just happens to be in a wheelchair. That happens to be my place of healing. It’s why I always raise it up a notch whenever I sing this carol because Jesus Christ is the Son of Righteousness. He has risen with healing in His wings. The Savior of the world has come to heal our relationship with the Father, and with it bringing peace and contentment and joy. No wonder – not only do the herald angels sing – but me too this Christmas!
And once again let me remind you of our website. Come by and visit us at any time. It’s joniandfriends.org and share a few comments with me while you are there. See you later, friend on Joni and Friends.
Song: Hark! The Harold Angels Sing; Written by Charles Wesley in 1739; Public Domain
(Previously aired as #6683 on 12/12/07 and #7469 on 12/16/10)
© Joni and Friends
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