The Worship Initiative - Face of God Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1: Phil Wickham
Underneath the starry sky
A Mother holds a Child tonight
All is calm and all is bright
She sings to Him a lullaby
Chorus: Phil Wickham, Both
"Gloria!"
I hear the angels singing, "Gloria!"
All of the Heaven's ringing, "Gloria!"
The Savior of the world is in Her arms
She's staring at the face of God
The face of God
Verse 2: Shane & Shane
She looks upon the Great I Am
The gift of Heaven in Her hands
Born to save the sons of Earth
He was born to give them second birth
Ooh
Chorus: Shane & Shane, Both
"Gloria!"
I hear the angels singing, "Gloria!"
All of the Heaven's ringing, "Gloria!"
The Savior of the world is in Her arms
She's staring at the face of God, ooh, ooh
Hook: Shane & Shane
The face of God
Staring at the face of God!
She's staring at the face of God! Oh-ooh, oh, ooh
Chorus: Phil Wickham, Shane & Shane, Both
"Gloria!" (Gloria!)
I hear the angels singing, "Gloria!" (Gloria!)
All of the Heaven's ringing, "Gloria!"
The Savior of the world is in Her arms
"Gloria!"
I hear the angels singing, "Gloria!"
All of the Heaven's ringing, "Gloria!"
The Savior of the world is in Her arms
She's staring at the face of God
The face of God
Video
Face of God (feat. Phil Wickham)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released as part of the "Christmas with the Worship Initiative" collection in late 2023, "Face of God" offers a profound meditation on the Nativity, not merely as a historical event, but as a pivotal moment of divine revelation. The song masterfully zeroes in on Mary's unique perspective as she cradles the infant Jesus. The lyrics, sung by Phil Wickham and Shane & Shane, paint a vivid picture of that holy night, shifting from the earthly scene of a mother's lullaby to the celestial chorus of "Gloria!" This powerful juxtaposition highlights the immense significance of the Son of God being present in human form. The central theme, powerfully articulated, is Mary's direct encounter with the divine through her child. She is not just holding a baby; she is holding "the Great I Am" (John 8:58), the promised Savior. This intimate gaze upon Jesus is presented as looking upon the very "face of God." This concept resonates deeply with theological truths. John 1:18 declares, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." In Jesus, God's unseeable essence is made visible, and Mary, in her maternal embrace, is the first human witness to this profound truth. The song effectively connects the birth of Christ with his redemptive purpose, noting He was "born to save the sons of Earth" and give them "second birth," a clear allusion to the spiritual rebirth spoken of by Jesus himself in John 3:3. The repeated "Gloria!" not only echoes the angelic proclamation from Luke 2:14 but also signifies the worship and adoration that rightfully belongs to the incarnate God. The song’s focus is less on the musical arrangement and more on the unfolding of this divine narrative, inviting listeners to contemplate the awe-inspiring reality of God entering the world in the vulnerability of a newborn. It’s a powerful reminder that in Jesus, we too can begin to glimpse the "face of God," experiencing His presence and love in a tangible way, as promised in Matthew 1:23, "‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’"