Luke 2:1-20: "1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' 13 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'
"15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
John 1:29: "The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"
Philippians 2:3-8: "3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
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The text is public domain:
See amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See, the gentle Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.
Hail, O ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Lo, within a stable lies
He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.
Hail, O ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this!
Hail, O ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Teach, O teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility.
Hail, O ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
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The Luke 2 text is the primary referent; elements from it appear in each of the verses and the refrain. John 1:29 is in the first verse, in which Christ is called "the gentle Lamb." The Philippians text shows up in the last two verses. Christ's humility in making "himself nothing, taking the form of a servant" and "becoming obedient to the point of death" is referred to in the fourth verse as "Thy sweet humility" and in the third verse as "com[ing] from highest bliss / Down to such a world as this."
