This is Joni Eareckson Tada, and I invite you to sing with me this beautiful song…
(Joni sings:)
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 angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king.
I hope you were singing along there, because this has got to be one of my favorite Christmas carols of all time. Actually, I wish there had been opportunity to do all three verses, because to be honest, it is the last verse that really gets my spirit soaring:
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun 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.
You know, there’s a reason that verse means so much to me, because there’s not a time I sing those words, “risen with healing in his wings,” that I don’t choke up, because there was a time many years ago that I thought that verse meant Jesus would heal me. Heal me physically. It was the first Christmas I got out of the hospital; it was my first visit home. I was depressed; I was frightened. And I was sitting in church that Christmas Eve, and we sang this carol. And when I got to that third verse, I thought, “I’m sure this Christmas season I’ll get up out of my wheelchair ‘risen with healing in his wings.’”
Little did I know that in due time, God would heal me, but on a level I never dreamed. Because two years later, on another Christmas, I found peace. I found contentment. I found joy – simply because I embraced his will for my life. And what is his will? That you and I be in the best position, the best place, the most timely circumstance in which God can be glorified the most. And for me it just happens to be in a wheelchair. That happens to be my place of healing. And it’s why I always raise it up a notch whenever I sing this carol because Jesus Christ is the Sun of Righteousness; he is risen with healing in his wings. The Savior of the world has come to heal our relationship with the Father, and with it, bringing peace and contentment and joy. No wonder – not only do the herald angels sing – but me too this Christmas!
And once again, let me remind you of our website. Come by and visit us at any time. It’s joniradio.org, and share a few comments with me while you are there. See you later, friend. Until next time on Joni and Friends.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends