THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE, Part 3

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
Refrain: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
Refrain

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
Refrain

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
Refrain

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

The meaning of Christmas is bound up in a right understanding of the identity of Christ. As the Christmas hymn asks: “Who is He in Yonder Stall?” Who is He? The question is much more than an academic one. A person’s eternal destiny is bound up in a correct “heart-borne” response. Some say that He was a good man or a great prophet. But what do the Scriptures say? Who was the Christ child in the manger?

John 1:1-4, 14 speaks to His identity:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him…In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

He is the eternal Son of God and creator of all things. He left His throne and kingly crown when He came to earth for you. He came in great humility as a servant. His life was that of a servant from beginning to end. There was no room for Him in the inn. His cradle was a feeding trough; His grave was a borrowed tomb. He lived the life of a servant-- He had no wealth, no home, and no possessions. He received no welcome from the religious elite, indeed they sought His death. He ministered day after day to the needs of multitudes of people, but in the end they cried out “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “And this is judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

But there were those who did receive Him and there are those who will receive Him this very day. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sin?

As He knocks and asks admission, Sinner, will you let Him in?

Room for Jesus, King of glory! Hasten now, His Word obey;

Swing your heart’s door widely open, Bid Him enter while you may.

Pastor Jerry