The Song of Mary, focus of my December 1 post contemplates a warrior image, pulling down the mighty, combined with the picture of Immanuel described by Scrivener, defending the downtrodden. John the Baptist, with prenatal audience to Mary's prophecy, also becomes an important figure in anticipating and preparing the way for Jesus - not for his birth, but for his later ministry. On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry is an advent hymn in anticipation of this later phase of Jesus' work.
1 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh.
Awake and harken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings!
2 Then cleansed be every life from sin:
make straight the way for God within,
and let us all our hearts prepare
for Christ to come and enter there.
3 We hail you as our Savior, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward.
Without your grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.
4 Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,
and make us rise to fall no more.
O let your face upon us shine
and fill the world with love divine.
5 All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent has our freedom won,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Holy Spirit, evermore.
https://hymnary.org/text/on_jordans_bank_the_baptists_cry
