[Verse 3]
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
The phrase, "Jesus Lord, at thy birth," comes from the angelic good-news proclamation to shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth:
"for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 (NASB)
While it is certainly true that Jesus was Lord at his birth, that is not the whole truth!
When Mary had her angelic encounter, the angel told her a rather curious fact - that her cousin, Elizabeth, who was barren, was in her 6th month with a child - John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus.
Perhaps the mention of this fact was to assure Mary of the power of God to do the impossible. Regardless, when Mary soon found herself pregnant as the angel had said, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Pick up the story in Luke 1:39-45
39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
44 “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” (NASB)
Note in verse 43 that Elizabeth does not say "the mother-to-be of my Lord" but acknowledges that Mary already is the mother of her Lord. If John the Baptist is still unborn and is 6 months older than Jesus, then Mary is probably only in her first trimester ... and the unborn Jesus is already Lord!
Also, the unborn John the Baptist leapt at the sound of Mary's voice! Here is an acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord even from another unborn child!
So, the whole truth of "Jesus Lord, at thy birth" really is: "Jesus Lord, BEFORE thy birth."
Here's a good Christmas party question: Who, besides Mary and Joseph, was the first human to recognize Jesus as Lord? Perhaps the case could be made for Elizabeth as the answer, but give extra credit to the one who says it's the unborn John the Baptist.
Some say the unborn are not persons. I think the Bible clearly shows otherwise.
p.s. Of course Christians believe Jesus existed before creation as part of the Holy Trinity unity of God. "Jesus" in this song refers to the incarnate (100% God and 100% man) Jesus.
