The Songs Tell the Story: A Family Advent DevotionalSýnishorn

The Song You’ve Likely Known Forever

This was probably one of the first Christmas hymns you ever learned. It was written with easy words and a simple melody so children would be able to sing it for Christmas.

No one knows who wrote the hymn, and the last stanza was added later, possibly written by or about Martin Luther. Reverend Luther was famous for his work to reform and strengthen the church during his day.

The church had begun to believe things the Bible didn’t teach. Most people didn’t own a Bible of their own, so they didn’t know what to believe unless they were taught the truth by others.

Martin Luther worked hard to make certain the church was careful to teach God’s word correctly.

The last stanza of “Away in a Manger” could have been Luther’s thoughts and teaching. It says:

Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to heaven

To live with Thee there.

It’s possible those words tell us what Martin Luther thought was most important about Christmas: Jesus came from heaven, to be born as a baby. Then he grew to be a man who gave his perfect, sinless life so that anyone who would believe in him could live in heaven.

But, the last words of “Away in a Manger” also remind us that Jesus is still with us. God gives every believer his Holy Spirit, who is the Person and Presence of Jesus today. Jesus is close to believers now and forever. We are in his “tender care” until he takes us to heaven to live with him there.

Martin Luther would have wanted believers to think about that truth at Christmas.

Will you think about it today?