As a musician, when asked to consider “How Can This Be?” and the wonder of Advent, the first thing that came to mind were the lyrics to one of my favorite choir anthems. This anthem is Dan Forrest’s And Can It Be. The lyrics to And Can It Be were originally penned by Charles Wesley in 1739 and have appeared in many hymnals since then. In 2014, Forrest wrote a new setting of this text, and it has stuck with me since the first time I had the opportunity to sing it. Technically this text is one we would sing around Easter, but I would argue that we should think of it when remembering the birth of Jesus. As you listen, I want you to change one lyric.
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst come for me?
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own
