My husband is not a fan of Christmas music.  I am not sure why.  It’s not like I play it all year round – I am one of those people who waits until after Thanksgiving.  But over the years, I have managed to find a few that he will listen to with me without grumbling.  Charlie Brown Christmas.  Bryan Duncan.  And Jars of Clay “Christmastime.”  That might be a family favorite.  Well, the other day I was listening to the “City on the Hill” compilation.  For the first time, I really listened to “Bethlehem Town” by Jars of Clay.  I am quite certain this song would get my husband’s approval.

This song is not necessarily a happy Christmas song.  A bit of dirt and grit and reality – the parts of the story that we can overlook when we are only thinking about the baby.  Not why the baby came to earth.  Joy mixed with pain.  Sounds a lot like life.  Sounds a lot like a life that we need a Savior to overcome.

“Bethlehem Town”
Oh, Mary, Joseph, rest your eyes
Try not to think of the ending
World full of empty, He will die
But tonight He is still just a child

The silent night drifts all away
And the angels are dancing around you
There’s the joy of knowing He’ll save the world
Overshadowing the pain that He’ll go through

Have you cursed at the wind
Have you cried to the heavens
Have you fought with this mercy you don’t understand
When the wise men kneel down
To kiss the hand of this king they found in Bethlehem town

Will you hold back the years a while
Will you dream that this man could always be a child
And never carry all the weight
Of the dirt and the distance and the company we keep

Have you cursed at the wind
Have you cried to the heavens
Have you fought with this mercy you don’t understand
When the wise men kneel down
To kiss the hand of this king they found in Bethlehem town

And did the stars shine much brighter that night
You gave birth to the death that would bring us to life
And did the mystery keep you awake
Was the sound of His little heart too much to take

Oh, I don’t understand
When the wise men kneel down
To kiss the hand of this king they found

Have you cursed at the wind
Have you cried to the heavens
Have you fought with this mercy you don’t understand
When the wise men kneel down
To kiss the hand of this king they found In Bethlehem town
In Bethlehem town
In Bethlehem town