Worship Notes

Condescending people are hard to love, even though I suspect we all fall victim to casting the occasional, condescending comment.  Most of us know the famous Isaac Asimov quote, “People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.”  But, did you know, the word condescend did not originally have any negative connotation to it?  The Latin root suggests that condescend meant for someone to descend with or together.  In other words, to condescend was for a person to come and be among, or with the people.  Sound familiar? 

By definition, the incarnation is the condescension of Almighty God, in the person of the Son, to come and be with the people, to dwell among us.  That’s why so many Christmas carols use some form of the word condescend.  In modern hymn, “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery,” the lyricists used it to express Jesus’ humble willingness to put on the flesh of humanity, enter into our world, and ultimately die in our place to ransom us. 

Come behold the wondrous mystery
In the dawning of the king
He, the theme of Heaven's praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing, in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us 

Advent and Christmas are opportunities for us to embrace condescension – the humble, gracious, and loving act of God to come and dwell among us.  Thanks be to God for His immeasurable gift.

Chris

Don’t know one of the songs we’re singing?  Check them out here:

Angels We Have Heard on High
https://youtu.be/WHWqj6gKS9g?si=XWF-h28SZmjKe5LA

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
https://youtu.be/h-xQDm-KZw8?si=jBmoQRAdzrQ2PC63