I love Christmas. I’ve always loved the decorations and the carols since I was a (non-Christian) child. When I came to faith in Jesus Christ 21 years ago I fell in love with Christmas all over again. There’s much about this season which I really love and brings me joy.

Except for one Christmas carol.

Well, I’m sure there are many others, but this one sticks out because of its enduring popularity.

I’m speaking about the carol ‘Away in a Manger’ (which has often been misattributed to Martin Lurther). And what I’m going to say about it might put some people off. I know it has.

Years ago I was preaching through 1 John and mentioned the topic of Gnosticism. In particular I took aim at a gnostic teaching known as ‘Docetism’ – which basically teaches that Jesus was fully divine but only appeared to look like a human. Docetic teaching tried to preserve the uniqueness and holiness of the divine but did so with the faulty assumption that anything earthly was corrupted and necessarily bad. Therefore, Jesus did not, could not, have had a full human body. He only appeared that way.

You can see this bad idea informed parts of the popular carol ‘Away in a Manger’. Specifically, the second verse:

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes
But little lord Jesus, no crying he makes

I remember speaking with a man who got quite upset that this carol was being targeted. He argued that perhaps the ‘no crying’ line was referencing how serene the moment was. But something of the incarnation is also robbed: the true humanity of Jesus. Human babies cry. Babies in an uncomfortable stinky environment who are rudely awakened by noisy barn animals cry. This songs unhelpful influence has held sway over images and depictions of the nativity ever since. A simple google image search of ‘baby Jesus in a manger’ reveals lot of images and artwork which is highly sanitised. And in the middle is the baby Jesus, sleeping serenely or smiling with arms open. The baby Jesus looks and acts… non-human.

(The third verse itself is not without problem either – and seems to wish for something that the scriptures tell us is definite: the ongoing presence of Jesus with his people.)

So, it’s with pleasure that we get to sing a different version of this carol. One which is clear on the nature of Jesus’ birth – and it’s intended purpose:

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head
The stars in the sky look down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes
The dawn of salvation beginning to break
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, oh, gift from above
The King of the heavens, forever with us

I worship You, Jesus for all of my days
The highest of praises be unto Your name
My God and my Saviour
My King and my friend
Yours is the glory, forever Amen

You can hear it here: https://open.spotify.com/track/7t9o7F3M9L055wJ3xwHohV?si=5475e4fe78ed44b1

I hope as we sing this new version we’ll be reminded that Jesus has come. He was born, entered into our world as one of us, lived among us and showed us who God really is. Yet also like us in every way, but without sin. A picture of what true humanity should look like.

In the coming weeks we’ll also get to sing through a couple of new songs. This one, not a well known carol but a wonderful hymn to the birth of Jesus written by prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley – Glory be to God:

Glory be to God on high
Let peace on earth descend
God comes down before our eyes
To Bethlehem
God invisible appears
Endless ages wrapped in years
He has come who cannot change
And Jesus is His name

Emptied of His majesty
He comes in human form
Being’s source begins to be
And God is born
All our griefs He’ll gladly share
All our sins He’ll fully bear
He will cover our disgrace
And suffer in our place

Let the joyful news ring out
The Prince of Peace proclaim
Lift your heart and voice to shout
Immanuel’s name
God has kept His promises
What a work of grace, this is
Son of Mary, chosen One
The Lamb of God has come

Hosanna, hosanna
The Lamb of God has come
Hosanna, hosanna
He is the promised One

Glory be to God on high
Let peace on earth descend
God comes down before our eyes
To Bethlehem

https://open.spotify.com/track/7y86cMriDBrGb8pHuYy6th?si=722e1edb4cc84462

And this song, about the wonder of our creator’s birth – Glory to God in the Highest:

Hear the angels sing of the King of kings
Who made Himself poor
See the mystery and the majesty
The Creator is born
Oh the Maker became a man
Let us sing what the angels sang

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
Our hope has appeared
God has drawn near
Glory to God alone

See the One who spans the heavens with His hand
With fingers so small
See this babe so poor all of heaven adores
He’s the ruler of all
Let us worship our humble King
Adoration we humbly bring

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
Our hope has appeared
God has drawn near
Glory to God alone

Glory to God alone

Oh the Maker became a man
Let us sing what the angels sang

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
Our hope has appeared
God has drawn near

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
Our hope has appeared
God has drawn near
Glory to God alone

https://open.spotify.com/track/6gAGvQpehW8wFSKXEXTHue?si=bf3b02a6d424473f

If you have Spotify you can ‘follow’ this fun playlist of the songs we’ll sing – and it contains some other Christmas carols for young and old to enjoy this season: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2l1pAANeFimzXwRECwPpXo?si=75f6c84fa1264c05