From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CW 38) was written by Martin Luther, and we also know that it was written to be part of a Christmas play. The angel sings to the shepherds, “From heaven above to earth I come… glad tidings of great joy I bring.” The first five verses of the carol are narrative, retelling the story almost word for word from Luke chapter 2. Then the last ten verses are reflective, thinking about what the “glad tidings of great joy” mean. There’s also some reflection in the narration: “He will himself your Savior be / From all your sins to set you free.” There is also a special kind of reflection in this carol. I’m not sure what to call it other than delighting in the Christ-child, or ogling at the baby. This is also something seen in many carols like “O Jesus, So Sweet” and “Gesu Bambino.”
As Luther always does, he combines all this narrative and reflection with theology–pretty deep theology. Still, it isn’t merely a fifteen verse doctrinal essay on the incarnation of Christ. Luther keeps it tender. “There you will find the infant laid / By whom the heavens and earth were made.” There’s even some Theology of the Cross in it: “That all the world’s wealth, honor, might / Are weak and worthless in your sight.”
“Away in a Manger” used to be mislabeled as “Luther’s Cradle Hymn.” Luther’s real cradle hymn is verse 13 of From Heaven Above:
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled
Within my heart, made clean and new,
A quiet chamber kept for you.
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote an ornamented setting of this verse for his Christmas Oratorio. A lullaby for the King of kings!
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