Who is He in Yonder Stall?

 

A picture for Christmas and also picture puzzle - can you find where the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb that had been slain in the picture? (Answer further down page)

I was praying what picture to make for Christmas, then later the words of the Hymn "Who is He in Yonder Stall" came to me... I pondered why the Lord announced the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds...then a friend posted a photo of a stone food or water trough/manger the type that would have been used in the days of Jesus in Israel, the post explained various things about this. Which are different than the cosy wooden type of mangers popularly depicted in pictures. In Biblical times when the Temple in Jerusalem made sacrifices, priests kept sacrificial lambs in stone troughs in a blanket for protection, unblemished perfect lambs waited to be examined before sacrifice. For the Shepherds visiting Bethlehem to see what the angels announced, finding a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a "stone" trough would have been a powerful testimony, they would have understood as they were familiar with rearing sacrificial lambs. If we study scripture we see the significance of the title John the Baptist gave Jesus - “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" John 1:29. And in the book of Revelation we see. "and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain" Revelation 5:6.

Who is He in yonder stall,

At whose feet the shepherds fall?

’Tis the Lord! oh wondrous story!

’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At His feet we humbly fall,

Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

Who is He in deep distress,

Fasting in the wilderness?

Who is He the people bless

For His words of gentleness?

Who is He to whom they bring

All the sick and sorrowing?

Who is He that stands and weeps

At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?

Who is He the gathering throng

Greet with loud triumphant song?

Lo! at midnight, who is He

Prays in dark Gethsemane?

Who is He on yonder tree

Dies in grief and agony?

Who is He who from the grave

Comes to succor, help, and save?

Who is He who from His throne

Rules through all the worlds alone?

’Tis the Lord! oh wondrous story!

’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At His feet we humbly fall,

Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

Words by Benjamin Russell Hanby (1833-1867)