- Biblical Insights
- Song & Lyrics
- Pr Miranda Kua: A time to pause amidst our busy year
- Rev Lenita Tiong: A carol with a special meaning
This much-loved carol was written by Charles Wesley in 1739. He begins the song with the word “Hark”, which means “Listen”. We are called to listen to the songs of the angels just as the shepherds had heard them on that first Christmas night.
The carol explains how peace comes when God and man are reconciled through the mediating work of Jesus Christ. All the nations are urged to rise and join the triumphant song of the angels, proclaiming, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
We sing praises in the second stanza that declares Christ as the everlasting Lord, adored by the highest heaven. When the set time has fully come, we behold Him come as the offspring of a virgin’s womb. It may be hard to understand the phrases, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead” and “hail the incarnate deity”, but they express the mystery of Christ, fully divine and fully human.
This Christmas carol then points us to hail Christ as the Prince of Peace, who gives us peace beyond all this world could offer. It is His righteousness that saves us. He comes to us like the rising of the sun, and brings with Him healing in every way. He brings true light and life because He himself is the Light and Life.
Christ is acknowledged as our personal Saviour in the fourth stanza. We are carrying the nature of God which has been marred due to the fall of humankind into sin. Our corrupt nature needs to be replaced by a new nature. Our hearts need to be conquered by the love of the Son of God, and to become His humble home. Significantly, Christ who is the woman’s offspring foretold in Genesis 3:15, not only crushes the serpent’s head at the cross, but also in our hearts: “Bruise in us the serpent’s head”.
Hence, this old nature is replaced by the new nature, which is the character of Christ. Christ is formed in each believing heart. This is achieved through the mystic union between Christ and us so that He dwells in our inner being in order to fill us with all the fullness of God.
Hark! This wonderful salvation began on Christmas Day, when the Son of God, our Saviour, was born in Bethlehem.
The carol explains how peace comes when God and man are reconciled through the mediating work of Jesus Christ. All the nations are urged to rise and join the triumphant song of the angels, proclaiming, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
We sing praises in the second stanza that declares Christ as the everlasting Lord, adored by the highest heaven. When the set time has fully come, we behold Him come as the offspring of a virgin’s womb. It may be hard to understand the phrases, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead” and “hail the incarnate deity”, but they express the mystery of Christ, fully divine and fully human.
This Christmas carol then points us to hail Christ as the Prince of Peace, who gives us peace beyond all this world could offer. It is His righteousness that saves us. He comes to us like the rising of the sun, and brings with Him healing in every way. He brings true light and life because He himself is the Light and Life.
Christ is acknowledged as our personal Saviour in the fourth stanza. We are carrying the nature of God which has been marred due to the fall of humankind into sin. Our corrupt nature needs to be replaced by a new nature. Our hearts need to be conquered by the love of the Son of God, and to become His humble home. Significantly, Christ who is the woman’s offspring foretold in Genesis 3:15, not only crushes the serpent’s head at the cross, but also in our hearts: “Bruise in us the serpent’s head”.
Hence, this old nature is replaced by the new nature, which is the character of Christ. Christ is formed in each believing heart. This is achieved through the mystic union between Christ and us so that He dwells in our inner being in order to fill us with all the fullness of God.
Hark! This wonderful salvation began on Christmas Day, when the Son of God, our Saviour, was born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
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!"
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Final Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
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!"
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Final Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Pr Miranda KuaYoung Adults Campus, Multimedia and Communications Pastor, SIBKL
I wasn’t raised in a Christian home growing up, therefore my early encounters with Christmas carols were in shopping malls, usually in early November. It’s almost like the atmosphere is announcing that the best part of the year is just around the corner!
I didn’t know what these carols meant growing up until I accepted Jesus in my university years. Now these songs hit home more meaningfully, and what I love about Christmas is that we can be unapologetic about sharing the Good News openly.
The carol ‘Hark, the Herald the Angels Sing’ echoes my point so well. “Hark” means “Listen!” In the midst of our busy year, it’s calling us to pause, and pay attention to the fact that there is Good News that prophetically speaks of a new birth, a new hope, and a new beginning that has arrived.
The line "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled” proclaims the truth of Christmas where God reconciled the world to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). Before Jesus came, we were separated and estranged from God. All humankind’s efforts to find our way back to God never succeeded.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He built a bridge that stretched from heaven to earth, designed to reconcile sinful people unto Himself. Through this reconciliation, there can be peace on earth. And while Peace came to us, it is also meant to be found by us.
I didn’t know what these carols meant growing up until I accepted Jesus in my university years. Now these songs hit home more meaningfully, and what I love about Christmas is that we can be unapologetic about sharing the Good News openly.
The carol ‘Hark, the Herald the Angels Sing’ echoes my point so well. “Hark” means “Listen!” In the midst of our busy year, it’s calling us to pause, and pay attention to the fact that there is Good News that prophetically speaks of a new birth, a new hope, and a new beginning that has arrived.
The line "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled” proclaims the truth of Christmas where God reconciled the world to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). Before Jesus came, we were separated and estranged from God. All humankind’s efforts to find our way back to God never succeeded.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He built a bridge that stretched from heaven to earth, designed to reconcile sinful people unto Himself. Through this reconciliation, there can be peace on earth. And while Peace came to us, it is also meant to be found by us.
Rev Lenita TiongPastor, Faith Methodist Church Kuching
My parents went to a Chinese Methodist Church and most of us children couldn’t really read the Chinese characters. So every Christmas when the congregation sang this carol, we mumbled along until we came to the chorus when we would then sing with gusto.
Then as a teenager and later in university years, the words of this carol took on special meaning as I understood all that Charles Wesley was trying to express. Listen to what the angels were singing; they were singing of the birth of a King and a Saviour and the assurance of eternity.
As a Methodist pastor, I have preached many times using the three stanzas of this carol that:
Such good news needs to be sung, and as the angels declared it, so should we. Indeed, “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.
Then as a teenager and later in university years, the words of this carol took on special meaning as I understood all that Charles Wesley was trying to express. Listen to what the angels were singing; they were singing of the birth of a King and a Saviour and the assurance of eternity.
As a Methodist pastor, I have preached many times using the three stanzas of this carol that:
- Christ’s birth brings reconciliation between God and man. (“Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled”)
- Christ’s birth brings God to earth in human form. (“Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!”)
- Christ’s birth brings salvation and eternal life. (“Born that man no more may die…Born to give them second birth.”)
Such good news needs to be sung, and as the angels declared it, so should we. Indeed, “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.
This much-loved carol was written by Charles Wesley in 1739. He begins the song with the word “Hark”, which means “Listen”. We are called to listen to the songs of the angels just as the shepherds had heard them on that first Christmas night.
The carol explains how peace comes when God and man are reconciled through the mediating work of Jesus Christ. All the nations are urged to rise and join the triumphant song of the angels, proclaiming, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
We sing praises in the second stanza that declares Christ as the everlasting Lord, adored by the highest heaven. When the set time has fully come, we behold Him come as the offspring of a virgin’s womb. It may be hard to understand the phrases, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead” and “hail the incarnate deity”, but they express the mystery of Christ, fully divine and fully human.
This Christmas carol then points us to hail Christ as the Prince of Peace, who gives us peace beyond all this world could offer. It is His righteousness that saves us. He comes to us like the rising of the sun, and brings with Him healing in every way. He brings true light and life because He himself is the Light and Life.
Christ is acknowledged as our personal Saviour in the fourth stanza. We are carrying the nature of God which has been marred due to the fall of humankind into sin. Our corrupt nature needs to be replaced by a new nature. Our hearts need to be conquered by the love of the Son of God, and to become His humble home. Significantly, Christ who is the woman’s offspring foretold in Genesis 3:15, not only crushes the serpent’s head at the cross, but also in our hearts: “Bruise in us the serpent’s head”.
Hence, this old nature is replaced by the new nature, which is the character of Christ. Christ is formed in each believing heart. This is achieved through the mystic union between Christ and us so that He dwells in our inner being in order to fill us with all the fullness of God.
Hark! This wonderful salvation began on Christmas Day, when the Son of God, our Saviour, was born in Bethlehem.
The carol explains how peace comes when God and man are reconciled through the mediating work of Jesus Christ. All the nations are urged to rise and join the triumphant song of the angels, proclaiming, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
We sing praises in the second stanza that declares Christ as the everlasting Lord, adored by the highest heaven. When the set time has fully come, we behold Him come as the offspring of a virgin’s womb. It may be hard to understand the phrases, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead” and “hail the incarnate deity”, but they express the mystery of Christ, fully divine and fully human.
This Christmas carol then points us to hail Christ as the Prince of Peace, who gives us peace beyond all this world could offer. It is His righteousness that saves us. He comes to us like the rising of the sun, and brings with Him healing in every way. He brings true light and life because He himself is the Light and Life.
Christ is acknowledged as our personal Saviour in the fourth stanza. We are carrying the nature of God which has been marred due to the fall of humankind into sin. Our corrupt nature needs to be replaced by a new nature. Our hearts need to be conquered by the love of the Son of God, and to become His humble home. Significantly, Christ who is the woman’s offspring foretold in Genesis 3:15, not only crushes the serpent’s head at the cross, but also in our hearts: “Bruise in us the serpent’s head”.
Hence, this old nature is replaced by the new nature, which is the character of Christ. Christ is formed in each believing heart. This is achieved through the mystic union between Christ and us so that He dwells in our inner being in order to fill us with all the fullness of God.
Hark! This wonderful salvation began on Christmas Day, when the Son of God, our Saviour, was born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
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!"
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Final Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
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!"
Come, Desire of nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Final Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Pr Miranda KuaYoung Adults Campus, Multimedia and Communications Pastor, SIBKL
I wasn’t raised in a Christian home growing up, therefore my early encounters with Christmas carols were in shopping malls, usually in early November. It’s almost like the atmosphere is announcing that the best part of the year is just around the corner!
I didn’t know what these carols meant growing up until I accepted Jesus in my university years. Now these songs hit home more meaningfully, and what I love about Christmas is that we can be unapologetic about sharing the Good News openly.
The carol ‘Hark, the Herald the Angels Sing’ echoes my point so well. “Hark” means “Listen!” In the midst of our busy year, it’s calling us to pause, and pay attention to the fact that there is Good News that prophetically speaks of a new birth, a new hope, and a new beginning that has arrived.
The line "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled” proclaims the truth of Christmas where God reconciled the world to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). Before Jesus came, we were separated and estranged from God. All humankind’s efforts to find our way back to God never succeeded.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He built a bridge that stretched from heaven to earth, designed to reconcile sinful people unto Himself. Through this reconciliation, there can be peace on earth. And while Peace came to us, it is also meant to be found by us.
I didn’t know what these carols meant growing up until I accepted Jesus in my university years. Now these songs hit home more meaningfully, and what I love about Christmas is that we can be unapologetic about sharing the Good News openly.
The carol ‘Hark, the Herald the Angels Sing’ echoes my point so well. “Hark” means “Listen!” In the midst of our busy year, it’s calling us to pause, and pay attention to the fact that there is Good News that prophetically speaks of a new birth, a new hope, and a new beginning that has arrived.
The line "Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled” proclaims the truth of Christmas where God reconciled the world to Himself in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19). Before Jesus came, we were separated and estranged from God. All humankind’s efforts to find our way back to God never succeeded.
When Jesus died on the Cross, He built a bridge that stretched from heaven to earth, designed to reconcile sinful people unto Himself. Through this reconciliation, there can be peace on earth. And while Peace came to us, it is also meant to be found by us.
Rev Lenita TiongPastor, Faith Methodist Church Kuching
My parents went to a Chinese Methodist Church and most of us children couldn’t really read the Chinese characters. So every Christmas when the congregation sang this carol, we mumbled along until we came to the chorus when we would then sing with gusto.
Then as a teenager and later in university years, the words of this carol took on special meaning as I understood all that Charles Wesley was trying to express. Listen to what the angels were singing; they were singing of the birth of a King and a Saviour and the assurance of eternity.
As a Methodist pastor, I have preached many times using the three stanzas of this carol that:
Such good news needs to be sung, and as the angels declared it, so should we. Indeed, “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.
Then as a teenager and later in university years, the words of this carol took on special meaning as I understood all that Charles Wesley was trying to express. Listen to what the angels were singing; they were singing of the birth of a King and a Saviour and the assurance of eternity.
As a Methodist pastor, I have preached many times using the three stanzas of this carol that:
- Christ’s birth brings reconciliation between God and man. (“Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled”)
- Christ’s birth brings God to earth in human form. (“Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!”)
- Christ’s birth brings salvation and eternal life. (“Born that man no more may die…Born to give them second birth.”)
Such good news needs to be sung, and as the angels declared it, so should we. Indeed, “Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King.
Christ, you are my Saviour. Emmanuel, God with us. Let me be your humble home as You dwell in me and form godly character in me.
Have You Installed the ODB App?
Download Our Daily Bread mobile app for private journaling, public comments, bookmarking, and much more.
