December 2: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

First Week of Advent: Hope

December 2: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming/Es Ist ein Ros entsprungen (German) - Link & Lyrics Below

Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming is a German carol dating to the sixteenth century. Translated into English by Theodore Baker in 1894, today it is beloved worldwide.

At first glance, one might wonder what a blooming rose has to do with Christmas? But the carol is not mere sentimentality. Notice that this “rose” springs up from Jesse’s lineage (st. 1) and was foretold by the prophet Isaiah (st. 2). The carol recalls the prophecy of Isaiah 11.

Please stop and read that chapter now.

Though God had promised King David that one of his sons would reign forever (2 Sam 7), the story of Israel’s kings was one of faithlessness and decline. In the end, the house of Jesse (David’s father) would become nothing more than a stump. But God promised a king who would spring forth like a shoot from that stump and he would not disappoint. He would be guided by the Holy Spirit (11: 2-3), judge on behalf of the needy (v.3-4a) and defeat the powers of wickedness (v. 4b-5). Through his reign all creation would be transformed (vv. 6-9) and the whole earth, “filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (v.9b).

At Christmas we celebrate not only the coming of a Savior but also a King – Jesus Christ the Lord. It is the fragrance of Christ and his kingdom which is the hope of the world.

H. Wayne Johnson
Provost Emeritus, Trinity International University

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Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming

From tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse’s lineage coming,

As men of old have sung.

It came, a flow’ret bright,

Amid the cold of winter,

When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it,

The Rose I have in mind;

With Mary we behold it,

The virgin mother kind.

To show God’s love aright,

She bore to men a Savior,

When half spent was the night.

This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender

With sweetness fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendor

The darkness everywhere.

True man, yet very God,

From sin and death He saves us,

And lightens every load.