Merry Christmas! Bending Lowly Before the King of Kings

Samuel Hartwich and Warwick Marsh

24 December 2025

2.1 MINS

“Why was Jesus born in a manger?”

This question from my (Samuel’s) inquisitive daughter is a brilliant one, and the answer speaks volumes about the God whom we celebrate coming as a baby.

Celebrating the Humble Newborn King

An animal feeding trough is not where we’d expect God-incarnate to be placed after his birth. As the carol “O Holy Night” so wonderfully puts it, “The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger.”

Yet, there he was, visibly demonstrating his humility and powerfully revealing his purpose: to be the servant of servants and to give his life for the benefit of others. The message of Christmas is truly astounding.

As 2025 draws to a close, the team at the Canberra Declaration would like to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! May this period be particularly special as we celebrate the birth of the saviour.

We have recorded our short Christmas greeting to say thanks to you for your wonderful and incredible ongoing partnership with the Canberra Declaration and to wish you a very merry Christmas. Check out our short messages in the video below!

Jesus’ birth is celebrated at this time of year across much of the world. Like no other event in history, it has split the calendar in half. Every time we write the date, we reference Jesus’ entrance into the world.

Without Jesus’ birth, there would be no saviour from sin and no king who will one day rule the world from “his glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31). That’s how critical the events of around 2025 years ago are.

As our culture stops for a time of holidays, we pray that many Australians will, the first or thousandth time, “Behold your King; before him lowly bend!”

As the carol concludes on the humble baby born in Bethlehem:

“Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!

His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!”

Appeal for the Bondi Terrorist Attack Victims

Celebrate Israel, in partnership with the Canberra Declaration and other supporters, have organised a relief fund appeal for the victims and families of the Sydney Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Our giving team is called Celebrate Israel Australia on the platform and is part of a much larger appeal run on the Charidy giving website. All donations are tax-deductible and will be administrated by the Jewish United Support Fund.

The relief fund will provide direct financial support, helping families begin to rebuild their lives after this tragedy. Assistance is especially needed to cover essential commitments when the family’s primary breadwinner has been killed. Find out more about this appeal on The Daily Declaration here.

Please stand alongside the Jewish community as a visible demonstration of God’s love to them at this critical time of need. So far, far, as of writing, over $17,000 has already been donated, and we prayerfully seeking to raise $100,000.

Please share this appeal button with your church networks and friends.

Give by clicking the green button below.

DONATE TO JEWISH RELIEF FUND

Yours for bending lowly before him,

Samuel & Leah Hartwich, Warwick & Alison Marsh, Kurt & Angie Mahlburg, Kym & Nel Farnik and Jean & Tasman Westbury

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Image via Adobe.

About the Author: Samuel Hartwich and Warwick Marsh

Australia / EDITORIALS / Faith

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