NOTE: Because this song has such a special meaning at this time of year, I won’t apologize for posting it every year. I’m sorry I didn’t get it done closer to Christmas, but between having a bad cold and foot surgery, I haven’t been very alert. You may listen to an audio recording here.
Little baby in a manger, almost You’re crying.
Can it be You feel the coldness of the world You’ve come to?
Do You somehow miss the warmth You’ve left at home in Heaven?
Little baby in a manger, almost You’re crying.
Do You see Yourself as just an ordinary baby,
Or do You somehow recognize that You’re the Son of God?
Little baby in a stable, almost You’re smiling.
Can it be You feel the joy of those who wait Your coming?
Do You somehow know what hope You’ve brought to earth from Heaven?
Little baby in a stable, almost You’re smiling.
Do you see Yourself as just an ordinary baby,
Or do You somehow recognize that You’re the King of Kings?”
(instrumental third stanza)
Do you see Yourself as just an ordinary baby,
Or do You somehow recognize that You’re Emmanuel?
About This Song
If you’re like me, you’ve often wished you’d been around two thousand years ago to witness Jesus’s life and ministry in person.
But wishing doesn’t change the fact we were born two millennia too late. Rather than fret about it, let’s imagine we were among the shepherds who saw and listened to the angels’ spectacular announcement of Jesus’s birth. No Super Bowl commercials will ever come close to matching it. And let’s imagine we’ve come to the stable and are looking at Jesus as a newborn.
Hmm. No matter how special the angels said He was, He looks pretty much like any other baby, doesn’t He? Or does He look a little bit more peaceful than a regular baby as he lies there sleeping?
He opens His eyes. He appears to look first at you and then at me. Strange. Newborns aren’t able to focus that way, are they? More amazing still, He appears to be deep in thought. But babies can’t think yet; thought requires a knowledge of language, something babies aren’t born with.
Of course we know Jesus is both human and divine. So isn’t it possible He can observe things a normal baby can’t observe? And think or feel things babies shouldn’t be able to think or feel? Alas, the Bible doesn’t tell us.
I speak to baby Jesus, aware that He shouldn’t be able to understand me. Yet He appears to be listening to my words. Perhaps even comprehending them. As if He might truly be more than just an ordinary baby. After all, fully human and fully divine is a strange and powerful combination. Not to mention a unique one.
Yes, Jesus is unique. Even so, I’m certain He won’t be able to answer my questions or comment about my observations.
I don’t know how Jesus differed from ordinary babies while, at the same time, still being quite ordinary. It doesn’t matter. Even as a baby, He deserved and deserves my praise and adoration during the whole year. Not just at Christmas.
Please feel free to share a comment.
I write Christian novels as well as songs. The two most recent ones are shown below and their pictures are links to the Amazon pages. The eighteen-book picture is a link to my Amazon Author Page.
I’ll be back again next Wednesday. Please join me then. Better still, sign up to receive these weekly posts by email.
Best regards,
Roger
Links you might be interested in:
- Visit Roger’s website, RogerBruner.com
- Check out Roger’s free Christian lead sheets
- Shop for Roger’s books on Amazon
As I Come Singing. . . 
Hope your foot is better, and have a blessed New Year!
Thanks, Becky. It’s improving a bit more each day, and you have a blessed New Year as well.