This is the third stanza in our Hymn of the Week series. To read the whole story, start with the introduction or the second stanza.

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Rembrandt

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n 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.

In the third verse, we are once again called to praise the Messiah and Wesley directs us to Scripture after Scripture: Isaiah 9:6, the Prince of Peace; Malachi 4:2, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings,” and Philippians 2:6-8, which talks about how He set aside his reputation to become like us.

The last part of the verse explains Christ’s coming and our salvation. He came so we could have everlasting life; to raise us from the dead; and to give us the second birth – so we could be “born again.’ John 3 and John 6:39-43 are great passages to read here. What did Jesus mean when he told Nicodemus that he must be born again? John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” and that is the most important thing our children can learn at Christmas.

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We and our older children are really enjoying hearing our younger children begin to sing this song through and understand it. Are you? See you tomorrow!