CW 540 O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild
It isn’t surprising that this hymn is sometimes sung at Christmas since it emphasizes Jesus becoming a child. The original German title – O Jesulein süss – makes that clear. Translated literally, it means: “O sweet little Jesus.” Doesn’t that immediately make you think of Jesus as a baby? The description of Jesus as sweet and mild are words that we often associate with the babies we raise.
While this hymn pictures Jesus as a small child, it also declares that Jesus completed the work he came to do which benefits each one of us.
Stanza 1: O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild, for sinners you became a child. You came from heaven to fulfill your Father’s just and holy will, O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild.
It doesn’t take long to realize that the innocent looking baby in our arms is not always sweet and is not always mild-mannered. The baby in our arms is a sinner like you and me. The baby, like us, needs a Savior. It is the sweet and mild Jesus who takes on that role for us.
And it was God’s will for Jesus to take on human flesh and blood and come into this world. Jesus willingly and obediently followed his Father’s will. In German, the word translated mild can also have the idea behind it of being charitable. Doesn’t that help describe Jesus’ attitude toward us? The Apostles Paul wrote these words in his first letter to Pastor Timothy (1:15): “This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” of whom I am the worst.” Thank God that Jesus is mild toward us!
Stanza 2: O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild, with God we now are reconciled. You have for all the ransom paid, your Father’s righteous anger stayed, O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild.
Our relationships with people are often fractured. Sometimes we can resolve those things on our own. Sometimes we need a professional to help mediate.
Because of sin, our relationship with God was completely broken. It is not within our capability to make that relationship whole. It was, however, within God’s capability to fix it. So, he sent a professional: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6) Jesus paid the ransom for us with his holy precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death. O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild!
Stanza 3: O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild, joy fills the world which sin defiled. Whate’er we have belongs to you, O keep us faithful, strong, and true, O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild.
What hasn’t sin touched? Paul says: “For we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22) Because sin affects all of God’s creation, it affects us and everything that we do. It even affects our moods and our attitudes.
But because of Jesus, there is joy in the world. True joy. Lasting joy. Joy that is rooted in substance. This is not a manufactured joy, but one that comes naturally from believing hearts.
The second to last phrase of this verse is a petition to Jesus: “O keep us faithful, strong, and true.” Being faithful, strong, and true is not an easy task. It means following the example of Jesus and being ready to sacrifice. Not to win Jesus’ love, but because Jesus loves us.
We may look at a baby and say “Isn’t she sweet.” Isn’t that really a commentary on how precious that child is? How much more true is that of Jesus?! There is no one more precious to us than Jesus. There can be no one more precious to us than Jesus. In his grace, he showed his love for us, mercifully making us his own. May we live for our sweet Jesus!