But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

It is time once again for what has become one of my favorite annual traditions on here: Songs of the Season. Each year during the season of Advent I take time each Friday to share with one some of my favorite songs of the season. One of the richest parts of the Advent season are the many songs we sing to celebrate the birth of our Savior. In fact, Christmas songs in general are one of the most cherished parts of this time of year for many people whether they are sacred or secular. I defy you to find another season with as many songs dedicated to its celebration as this one (and with several new ones being added to the library each year). You can’t do it because there isn’t. And so, without further ago, let’s get to our first song of this season: Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery.

Now, as a matter of full disclosure: this isn’t really a Christmas song. It’s a hymn. It’s not even really an Advent hymn either. It’s a Gospel hymn. It is part of a growing crop of new hymns coming out of this generation that have the potential to become the standard collection of hymns sung for many generations into the future. Keith and Kristyn Getty are due much credit as being the heralds and inaugurators of this great new generation of music. Because of the speed at which churches move many of them are slow to find their way into the worship liturgy of more traditional churches, but they will eventually and we will all be the better for it. This particular hymn was written by Matt Boswell. He’s a worship pastor in Frisco, Texas with several wonderful hymns to his name.

We live in the midst of a season when there is a renewed emphasis from many worship leaders on the nature and purpose of our worship. By looking back to the thoughts and leadings of much older works, they are finding inspiration for a new generation for whom ancient roots mean a great deal more than they once did. For my money, this is overwhelmingly a good thing. Worship today is often reduced to little more than a few minutes’ worth of singing during a weekly worship service. In many churches there is such an emphasis on the excellence of the music (which is not a bad thing in and of itself) that congregational singing gets lost, and the whole thing becomes little more than a performance rather than a gift to God given by the whole congregation’s lifting their voices together in praise of His glory and grace.

Out of this season is growing a number of songs with a much greater theological richness and depth than many of the primarily performative songs of the last generation. We are being given a gift of new hymns that can be used to impart an orthodox theology to worshipers which will help them grow in their understanding of and appreciation for who God is. This, in turn, will result in greater devotion to and a lived out consistency with the Christian worldview.

This particular hymn presents the Gospel to us in a concise form, starting with the birth of Christ (and thus winning it a spot in this year’s Songs of the Season). It invites its hearers to consider the mystery of God’s great love for us expressed in Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. The great and glorious God of the universe reduced Himself to dwell in the flesh of a helpless baby. He then went on to live a perfectly human life yet with “trace or stain of sin.” When His time was brought to its fullness, He laid down His life for us. Yet the grave could not hold Him, and on the third day He rose again. I can think of few things that I would rather have my congregation humming to themselves than this message of hope and salvation.

That’s enough from me. Let’s get to the music. The song has been recorded by several different artists. Today, I’m going to share with you the version by The Gray Havens, the husband-wife duo who are still one of my absolute favorite groups to listen to. Enjoy and have a happy Friday.