A Child Has Come

Jon Reddick's “A Child Has Come” is a Christmas song that begins with a weary world rejoicing with heaven. It says a light has come to heal all creation and bring salvation, and then speaks of a broken world that welcomes a Savior.

The singer names the gift as a hope that has come, the King of the ages who comes down to save. The chorus says hallelujah, a child has come, bringing new life, and describes him as the Son of God with us. A second verse sets the scene of a silent night awakening the angels and a promise kept since the Garden of Eden, a hope to believe in. The bridge looks at the unexpected way the King came: not on a throne and not with a crown, but as love sent down. The congregation then says together that they stand in wonder and awe, and that the mercy of God was a gift for all. The song places the birth within the larger story of the Bible, going from Eden to Bethlehem in a few lines, which gives it more weight than a simple seasonal tune. Reddick's warm voice and the gentle build make it suitable for Advent and Christmas Eve services. It also fits listeners who feel the season is crowded and want something that points to the reason for it.

The child given and his names appear in Isaiah 9:6. The angel's news of great joy is Luke 2:10-11, and the first promise of a Savior is Genesis 3:15.