Advent at the Chapel: Born That Man No More May Die

by Tate Garrett

Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Verse 3

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!”

            Hark the Herald Angels Sing has always been one of my very favorite hymns.  I look forward to it every year as a staple of the Christmas season, but in addition to being an extremely fun hymn to sing, it’s also packed with all the reasons for Jesus’s coming, and a reminder of the hope he brought with him.  The first two lines remind us of Jesus’s divine origin and righteousness, while the third and fourth are filled to bursting with joy and gladness at the savior’s gifts to us – healing, light and life through his resurrection. 

            “Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die” proclaims the humility and humanity that Jesus embraced, though he was the Son of God, in order that we might live as adopted sons in his kingdom.  And though his birth, we see the death of death and the gift of eternal life. 

            “Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth!”  This is a line that demands the explanation point I added at the end – how could we not shout out such a wonderful message?  In it we are given a share in Jesus’s resurrection and a reminder that we have been born again, wiping away our sin with his love and forgiveness.

            The verse, and hymn, finishes with a joyous “Hark!  The herald angels sing: glory to the newborn King!”  I will never be able to hear this line sung without picturing the night of Christ’s birth when the angels came and proclaimed our savior’s arrival to the shepherds.  The entire hymn overflows with joy to proclaim the good news, and to do so boldly, and beautifully.  Few others make me want to rejoice so much as this one.  So let us remember with thanks and praise the reason for the Christmas season – Hark!  The herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King!