Chris Renzema - The Empathy Of God Lyrics
Lyrics
My Christ was born on Christmas day
The love of God in a jar of clay
The Prince of peace joined in the fray
The empathy of God
My Christ was born in Bethlehem
A stable was a throne for Him
Among the wolves came as a Lamb
The empathy of God
So, oh come, let us adore Him
The One who came to see
What it's like to walk in my shoes
And still kneeled to wash my feet
Oh come, let us adore Him
The One who came to feel
What it's like to be broken
All so I could be healed
Oh, how great the love revealed to us
In Jesus Christ, the empathy of God
My Christ was born on Christmas day
Light of the world into darkness came
The heart of the Father on full display
The empathy of God
So, oh come, let us adore Him
The One who came to see
What it's like to walk in my shoes
Still kneeled to wash my feet
Oh come, let us adore Him
The One who came to feel
What it's like to be broken
All so I could be healed
Oh, how great the love revealed to us
In Jesus Christ, the empathy of God
So, oh come, let us adore Him
Oh come, let us adore Him
Oh come, let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord
Oh come, let us adore Him
Oh come, let us adore Him
Oh come, let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord
Come, let us adore Him
Oh come, let us adore Him
Oh come, let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord
Oh come, let us adore him
Christ, the Lord
Video
The Empathy Of God
Meaning & Inspiration
Chris Renzema’s "The Empathy Of God," arriving on November 12, 2025, as part of his forthcoming album *Every December*, is a profoundly moving testament to the Incarnation, offering a fresh, yet timeless, perspective on the very heart of the Christmas story. This song doesn't just narrate a historical event; it invites us into the radical truth of God’s identification with humanity, capturing the divine compassion that moved the Creator to dwell among His creation. It’s an urgent call to adore the One who stepped out of eternity into the confines of time, all for our sake.
The central narrative of the song revolves around the birth and life of Christ as the ultimate expression of divine empathy. Renzema paints a vivid picture of God's love manifesting in human form, describing "The love of God in a jar of clay." This striking imagery immediately calls to mind 2 Corinthians 4:7, where Paul speaks of holding "this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Here, the "jar of clay" is Christ Himself, fully human, containing the infinite love and power of God. The lyric “The Prince of peace joined in the fray” beautifully contrasts Christ's divine nature with the chaotic reality of our fallen world, highlighting that true peace often emerges not from avoiding conflict, but by entering into it with redemptive purpose, a concept rooted in Isaiah 9:6 which proclaims Him the "Prince of Peace."
As the song progresses, it deepens this understanding of Christ's humble beginnings. We are reminded that He was "born in Bethlehem," where "A stable was a throne for Him." This poignant image powerfully illustrates the upside-down kingdom Jesus inaugurated, where majesty is found not in earthly grandeur but in profound humility, mirroring the account in Luke 2:7 where there was "no guest room available for them." His arrival "Among the wolves came as a Lamb" is a piercing echo of John the Baptist's declaration, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). It also hints at the vulnerability and sacrificial nature of His mission, akin to being "sheep among wolves" (Matthew 10:16), yet willingly so, for our redemption.
The chorus serves as the song's spiritual epicenter, articulating the transformative impact of this divine empathy. The invitation to "Oh come, let us adore Him / The One who came to see / What it's like to walk in my shoes / And still kneeled to wash my feet" is incredibly profound. It speaks directly to Christ's full humanity, His willingness to experience the human condition in its entirety—joy, sorrow, temptation, and pain—just as Hebrews 4:15 affirms, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet did not sin." The act of kneeling to wash feet directly references John 13:1-17, where Jesus, the Lord and Teacher, modeled radical servant leadership, demonstrating the depth of His love and humility.
Further amplifying this theme, the chorus continues, "Oh come, let us adore Him / The One who came to feel / What it's like to be broken / All so I could be healed." This directly addresses Christ's suffering and sacrifice, painting Him as the ultimate empath, who not only understood our brokenness intellectually but experienced it viscerally. Isaiah 53:5 beautifully foretells this: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Renzema connects Christ's self-inflicted brokenness with our restoration, making His suffering the very pathway to our healing and wholeness.
The final verse reiterates the expansive scope of Christ’s arrival, stating, "Light of the world into darkness came." This is a foundational biblical truth, emphasized repeatedly throughout Scripture, particularly in John 8:12 where Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Crucially, this manifestation of Christ as light also reveals "The heart of the Father on full display." The Incarnation isn't merely an act of the Son, but a complete revelation of God's character and boundless love, fulfilling Jesus' words in John 14:9, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
The repeated refrain, "Oh come, let us adore Him," evolves from a simple suggestion into an urgent, worshipful crescendo. It’s an echoes the timeless call found in hymns like "O Come, All Ye Faithful," urging a collective response of reverence and gratitude. The repetition instills a deep sense of worship, guiding those who engage with the song to shift their focus from mere contemplation to active adoration of "Christ, the Lord." This song serves as a powerful reminder that the Christmas narrative is not just a historical event to be remembered, but a living truth that calls for ongoing worship and a profound recognition of God’s unparalleled empathy for humanity. Renzema's careful crafting here makes the message unmistakable: Christ is, indeed, the living embodiment of the empathy of God, transforming our understanding of divine love and inviting us to a deeper relationship with Him.