Concordia Choir: Betelehemu (arr. Barrington Brooks)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
What is with the words of “Joy to the World”? Shouldn’t it say, “the Lord has come?” So ask the grammarians who seek linguistic consistency.
Responses generally look back into the history of English and conclude that this carol, written in 1719, is consistent with English usage of the time. That is a legitimate approach.
I don’t know if the hymn’s writer, Isaac Watts, intended it to be so, but as we hear it today, this bit of archaic grammar coveys a deep truth.
Of course, it is true that the Lord has come. St. Luke anchors Jesus’ birth firmly in history. Jesus was born in the days of Caesar Augustus, during the first tax registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Those are specific historical anchors. Historical markers continue throughout his ministry. The life and ministry of Jesus are part of history. Jesus has come.
Yet the significance of his coming is not limited to those few years. The Lord is come. He comes for all people in all time and in all places. He comes, as the Lamb of God, to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He gave himself as a sacrifice, once for all when he offered up himself (Hebrews 7:27).
In this season of anticipation, we look forward to many things. We wait for family and friends, for celebrations and presents. In faith, we long to celebrate the birth of our Savior. And we remember that this is certain. Because the Lord has come, and he is come for us. And this Savior promises us, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!