Matt Watts – Bethlehem’s Secret

It’s Christmastime again, where the radio blares familiar Christmas tunes, consumerism rears its ugly head, and parents become exhausted before Christmas arrives.  We occasionally run into the familiar trappings of the virgin’s quest, stable, baby, animals, and magi.  Yet, sometimes we forget that Christmas is about Christ!  Let us take some time out of our busy schedule and remember the reason for the season.

Artist Matt Watts personally asked me to review his song Bethlehem’s Secret.  He has been a musician and songwriter for St. Luke’s Lighthouse Church in Kent, England since 2000.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Matt-watts-bethlehems-secret-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song contains several theological truths of Jesus, including:

• King
• Sovereign
• Eternality
• Light of the world
• Creator

It also contains references that we expect from Christmas songs: Mary and Joseph, the Christ child, and an angel’s utterance of Christ’s birth to shepherds, causing them to visit Jesus.  What I did not expect is Watts’ connection to the cross as the reason for Christ’s birth: paying for our sins and eventual resurrection, conquering death and giving us hope of a relationship with God.  Good Friday and Easter are truly the reason for Christmas!  It makes me wonder why we give gifts on Christmas instead of Easter.

There is repetition of the Chorus after each verse, a second Bridge, and two Chorus repeats at the end.  This seems fine to me, in part because the message of the cross threw me off the first time.  I really needed to hear it a second time!

Good move Watts, for placing the Gospel in the Bridge.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All lines align with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: Watts tells us why later in the song.

Line 2: One of Bethlehem’s secrets is that Jesus is the Heavenly King who came to earth, as mentioned by the Magi (Matthew 2:2).

Line 3: That is, this God-man Jesus is sovereign over all creation, including history (Colossians 1:17 and Hebrews 1:8).

Line 4: That is, God became man as the person of Jesus (John 1:1, John 1:14, Galatians 4:4, Philippians 2:5-8, and 1 Timothy 3:16).  He is eternal (John 8:58, Colossians 1:13-17, and Hebrews 13:8).

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: Not immediately or literally, but slowly and figuratively due to His impact on the world. It immediately shook up Herod’s world, threatening his kingship. His jealousy caused the death of every two and under in Bethlehem, prompting an angel to tell Joseph to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:1-18).

Line 3: Watts correctly describes a single angel, who spoke to the shepherds and related to them that Christ, the Savior, is born (Luke 2:10-13).

Line 4: This is the conclusion that Peter arrived upon Jesus’ questioning (Matthew 16:13-20 and Mark 8:27-30).

Line 5: Jesus said this about Himself in John 8:12.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: Though the text does not say that the shepherds bowed down to Jesus, it is a reasonable assumption given the praise that they offered to God upon the angelic utterances and their own observations (Luke 2:8-20).

Line 2: Though not in Scripture, it is a reasonable assumption given the general idea of child-rearing, naturally involving cradling the child.  Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling cloths and laid Him in the manger (Luke 2:7).

Lines 3 and 4: Jesus created the universe (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:13-16).  The fourth line shows the incredible humility of Christ, that the infinite would become finite (Philippians 2:5-7).

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: This is the true meaning of Christmas: not the birth of Jesus, but the sacrifice of Christ to pay for our lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9). It is Bethlehem’s secret placed in full display.

Line 3: Refers to the resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Line 4: References the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Watts combines everyday language with theological depth to communicate his message effectively towards unbelievers.  Given the onslaught of Christmas music in December, they should already be familiar with many of its elements.  The Bridge may give them pause, to ponder that the sacrifice of Christ as the meaning of Christmas.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus, describing His many attributes and Gospel message in a Christmas song.

Closing Comments

Matt Watts’ Bethlehem’s Secret is a sobering reminder that Christ’s sacrifice for our lawbreaking is the real meaning behind Christmas.  It contains true theological statements about the character and nature of Jesus, usual Christmas elements, and an unexpected Gospel presentation, which bring God glory.  Unbelievers should have little to no problem understanding Watt’s intended message.

Add this one to your Christmas lineup, whether as a carol or Sunday worship service.  There aren’t enough songs that connect Easter with Christmas.  We as Christians need to be reminded of this fact.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Bethlehem’s Secret (listen to the song) (buy the song)

Artist: Matt Watts

Album: N/A

Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 4:16

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