No Longer a Baby, But a King

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”.  Luke 2:11

The following poem I published on my blog five years ago.  I wrote it 34 years ago.  We celebrate the birth of Christ, but He did not stay a Baby in a manger.  He grew into adulthood, ministered to the sick, taught the people God’s word, showed the people what God is like, suffered, died, and was resurrected to defeat death and the devil and make the way for people to be forgiven of their sins and to have eternal life.

What Child is this who lay to rest, In a manger upon a bed of hay/ But as a Man, the Son of man, had no place His head to lay.

Noel, noel, born is the King of Israel, They expected Him to come in royal array/ But He was born in a manger and died on a tree, The Lamb sacrificed for us sheep gone astray.

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, Her firstborn Son warm in swaddling clothes lay/ But they stripped Him and put Him in a scarlet robe, Hitting and mocking, “Hail King of the Jews”, they say.

Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King, The shepherds came with haste to see/ The chief priests and elders with swords and staves came, And all His disciples turned to flee.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie, Quiet, welcoming, a place of warmth and cheer/ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, a place of hatred and confusion, Behold, you are left desolate, because you would not hear.

O beautiful star of Bethlehem, shining bright, Your glorious light to guide those from afar/ But when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness, Until the ninth hour, no sun, no moon, no star.

We three kings of orient bearing gifts, Gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the King newly born/ But as the Son of God was about to be crucified, The soldiers gave Him a crown of thorns.

Oh, Christmas tree, jingle bells, deck the halls, be jolly, Is it just me or do these things seem a bit folly?/ There’s nothing wrong with food, fellowship and good fun, Put Christ, not an X, in Christmas, for He is God’s Holy Son.

While we celebrate this time in joy and mirth, Let’s not forget the reason He came/ A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Wounded for our transgressions, taking all the blame.

So many beautiful Christmas songs have been written, Hosannas and hallelujahs the voices do ring/ The multitudes who sing about the Baby Jesus, How many really know Him as Savior, Lord, and King?

If you don’t get all the presents you wanted, Or Christmas doesn’t seem what it used to be/ Consider what you are really celebrating, For Christ came, suffered, and died for you and me.

While some of a snowy white Christmas may dream, And others party, no matter the weather/ Christians can look up for redemption draws nigh, And so shall we be with the Lord forever.