In the Bleak Midwinter
Verse 1
In the bleak midwinter
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone:
snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.
Verse 2
Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Verse 5
What can I give him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man
I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him,
give my heart.
Main Idea: People respond in different ways to the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. The wise men provide us an example of the best way to respond.
Three Responses to Hearing about the Newborn King
- Some hear and are by Him – Matthew 2:3, 7-8
- Some hear and are in Him – Matthew 2:4-6
- Some hear and are to Him – Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12
Their gifts were not for the purpose of making Jesus king
Their gifts were not for the purpose of manipulating Jesus as king
Their gifts were for the purpose of magnifying Jesus as king