Christmas Carols (Angels)
Scott Bayles, pastor
Blooming Grove Christians Church: 12/13/15
For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been delving into the Carols of Christmas. Like I said before, even if you wanted to, there is no possible way for you to escape hearing Christmas songs over the next few weeks. Here in church, on the radio, while you’re shopping, out of the mouths of carolers… you’re going to be inundated with Christmas carols. But this isn’t anything new. Musical expression is an integral part of the Christmas season and, I think, the songs of Christmas are needed today. I don’t mean the contemporary carols like Mariah Carey’s "All I Want For Christmas Is You" or Eartha Kitt singing “Santa Baby.” I’m not talking about the silly songs, like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman, as enjoyable as it is to belt them out while driving down the road. I don’t even mean the classic carols like Silent Night or It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, though I think need those too. No, I’m talking about the original Carols of Christmas—the divinely inspired, wondrous lyrics recoded in the pages of Luke’s Gospel as part of the Nativity story itself.
Now, there are no musical notes given to these “Christmas Carols” in the Bible. In truth, they were probably more like rhythmic chants. But when I read of the spontaneous, poetic and profoundly theological response of Mary bursting forth onto the pages of God’s Word, I cannot help but call that a song. When I read of John the Baptist’s father, Zachariah filled with the Holy Spirit, and breaking forth from a previously mute voice with the voice of rejoicing and prophecy, I call that a song. Likewise, the sight of angels appearing to shepherds in a night sky and praising God in a heavenly chorus is a Song of Christmas. And it’s that song—the song of Angels—I’d like to focus on today.
Before we get to their carol, however, we need to set the stage. A lot has happened since we left Mary at the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. After the birth of John, Mary returned home to Nazareth—now in her second trimester. While she was away, it seems, her soon-to-be ex-fiancée Joseph received a heavenly vision. The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, reassuring him that Mary had not been unfaithful, that she was indeed pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that Joseph should take her as his wife and name their son Jesus. Of course, Joseph is still in love with her and wants to do God’s will so he does just what the Lord says.
However, the newlyweds’ honeymoon was cut short by an announcement from Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire and everyone must register in their ancestral city. For both Mary and Joseph that city was Bethlehem. From Nazareth, it was a four day journey. Just imagine hiking twenty miles a day for four days in wooden sandals through barren lands. Then imagine being nine months pregnant the whole time! It’s possible that Mary and Joseph traveled in a caravan of family and friends, but we don’t know. With the rumors Mary’s pregnancy had stirred and the ruined reputation Joseph had earned, they may not have had any family or friends left. The truth is—the Bible doesn’t tell us anything about their journey, but it does tell us of their arrival!
Luke sums up the first Noel in two sentences: “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7 NLT).
Can you imagine what it was like that first Christmas morning?
The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor. A lowlier place of birth could not exist. Yet, it was in these humble circumstances that the impossible happened.
God had entered the world as baby.
Two thousand years later, we still celebrate the wonder, the humble beginnings, and the joy of Jesus’ birth. But that first Christmas was a quiet celebration. No trees to trim. No decorations. No party. No hype. No hoopla. In fact, were it not for a group of certain poor shepherds watching their sheep in the fields where they lay, there would have been no reception at all.
On December 9, 1965 Charles Schulz made TV magic when Linus recited the story of these shepherds and the heavenly host who appeared to them in A Charlie Brown Christmas. My family watches it every year. It’s one of my favorite things about Christmas. So rather than read this passage myself, I want to invite you to listen carefully as Linus recites it for us.
NEXT SLIDE: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1:35)
I’d love for us to put ourselves in these shepherd’s sandals for a moment. These shepherds were minding their own business, or rather, their own sheep—just another day at the office, another night in the field. Probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to them was a visit from a prowling wolf, which is why they kept watch. But then, the Bible says, “Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified” (Luke 2:9 MSG). Can you imagine their surprise!? The sheer awe-struck, adrenaline fueled, panic? And as if one angel wasn’t enough, after announcing the birth of Jesus, the angel was suddenly joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and singing:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJV)
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This angel chorus—brief though it is—underscores two wonderful results of Christ coming into our world! First, Christmas brings praise to God!
• CHRISTMAS BRINGS PRAISE TO GOD
Luke says that “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God…” (Luke 2:13 NIV). The phrase “great company” means there were so many that it was impossible to count. The sky was filled with a multitude of mighty messengers. I can almost picture the excitement in Heaven as word got out that God was sending a messenger to tell the people their Messiah had come. They had anticipated this day for centuries! I imagine one angel asked if he could tag along to see… then another angel asked… then another and another… Who knows if God didn't just tell them, "Anyone who wants to go may go!" Heaven must have emptied! This song of Christmas is different from the others we’ve seen in this series because it’s not a chorus that rose up from “a him” or “a her” but an anthem that came down from heaven. The shepherds watched as heaven opened up and an endless fleet of angels passed through the curtain one myriad at a time, until they occupied every square inch of the sky. Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in union as the angel chorus praises God, singing, “Glory to God in the highest!”
Christmas—the birth of Jesus—inspired all the host of heaven to praise God. That’s what Christmas does. The angels started it, but the shepherds continued it. After seeing the newborn Messiah for themselves, the Bible says, “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20 NLT). But that’s not the end of it. Eight days later Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus meet a man named Simeon in the Temple. The Bible says, “He took the child in his arms and praised God” (Luke 2:28). Moments later a woman named Anna “came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God” (Luke 2:38 NLT). Finally, the Wiseman arrived—twelve days after the birth. The Bible says, “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11 NLT).
Wise men (and women) still worship Christ at Christmas time.
Christmas is all about giving glory to God!
I think this is why music is such an important part of Christmas. Since the dawn of humanity, God’s people have worshipped and praised him through song.
One of my favorite Christmas Carols is Angels We Have Heard on High. Its flowing, lovely stanzas combined with sweet lyrics make it instantly recognizable and the tune often gets stuck in our heads around Christmas time. There’s a story behind the song. According to legend, on Christmas Eve many shepherds in the hills of France would sing and call to each other from hillside to hillside. They would call “Gloria in excelsis Deo!” And in the distance, another shepherd would respond, the words echoing throughout the countryside. For the Christians living in villages nearby, the shepherds’ song sounded like angels calling to one another in celebration of the birth of Christ. So what does Gloria in excelsis Deo mean? It’s Latin for “Glory to God in the highest!”
Are you giving glory to God this Christmas? Does the birth of Jesus inspire you to praise and worship him? If praise and worship isn’t a central component of your Christmas season, then you’re missing the real meaning of Christmas. You’re like Charlie Brown standing there shouting, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about!?” According to the angel’s carol, Christmas is about glorifying God. Christmas bring praise to God. But that’s not all. Christmas also brings peace to the godly.
• CHRISTMAS BRINGS PEACE TO THE GODLY
When you think of Christmas, peace may not be the first word that comes to mind for you. For many us, it’s just the opposite—stressful, busy, hectic, and demanding. I heard a story about these two men whose families lived next door. The husbands opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected storm surprised the sailors. Before long, the weather started getting rough, and their tiny ship was tossed around like the Minnow on Gilligan’s Island. While heading toward the harbor, the boat hit a sandbar and grounded. Both men jumped overboard into the icy water and began to push and shove in an attempt to get the sailboat into deeper water. Knee-deep in mud and repeatedly bounced against the hull by unfriendly waves, one of them turned to the other and said with a smile, “Sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn’t it?”
In an issue of the AARP Bulletin one December, readers were asked to respond to the question: What’s your strategy for coping with holiday stress? The answers ranged from eating a tub of ice cream to having a stiff drink. But Don Betz of Oakdale, Minnesota, offered his own unique solution. Every December 1st, Betz says, “I give my wife one dollar, and she worries about everything for both of us.” He then goes on to add, “If someone else wants to be stress free, they can also send her a dollar.” (2005)
Peace can seem pretty elusive, especially around Christmas time. But that’s the very reason that Jesus came into our world—to bring us peace. The mighty angel chorus announced it: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14 ESV).
Peace is an important part of the Gospel. The word “peace” appears over 400 times in Scripture. The word translated “peace” in Hebrew is shalom. It was often used as a greeting, but has a rich depth of meaning. Shalom is a feeling of contentment, wholeness and harmony that is intended to resonate in all relationships. The prophet Isaiah described Jesus as Sar Shalom—the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Before going to the cross, Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27 NIV). When Jesus appeared to them again after rising from the dead, his first word was shalom: “Peace be with you” (John 20:21 NASB). The very thing that they didn’t have was the very thing that he offered—peace. And he still offers it to us today. The peace of Christ is multidimensional.
First, Christmas brings us peace with God. Apart from Christ we are at odds with God. He’s holy, righteous, and good. And we’re not. But because of the Babe lying in the manger, you and I can be made new. Christ clothes us in his righteousness and brings us into God’s eternal family.
Furthermore, Christmas brings us the peace of God. Paul speaks of this peace when he writes, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything… Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). Thanks to Jesus, we can go to God in prayer, lay all of our anxieties at his feet and experience a transcendent peace of heart and mind.
Finally, Christmas also brings peace with others. Speaking of Charlie Brown, one of my favorite Peanuts comic-strips shows Lucy saying to Charlie Brown, “I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!” So Charlie says, “But I thought you had inner peace?” Lucy replies, “I do have inner peace. But I still have outer obnoxiousness.” A lot of us can probably relate to Lucy, but I think she has it backwards. If really you have the peace of God within you, then outer obnoxiousness is just a minor annoyance.
Although God offers his peace to everyone, not everybody experiences it. That’s why the angels specified “peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Praise has to come before peace. When we give the highest glory to God—honoring and accepting Christ as our Savoir and Lord—then we’ll experience the peace of Christmas.
Conclusion
Jesus came for the glory of God and for the good of all people. We could say it this way: Peace comes to those who praise Him and grace to those who give Him glory. The highest degree of glory to God is connected with the giving of His Son. It all starts in heaven with God’s perfect plan and it arrives on earth where peace comes to those who personalize the message. It’s available to all but activated only for those who believe and embrace not just the baby in the manger, but the man on the cross.
Invitation
Next week, we’ll talk about one last Christmas Carol recoded in Luke 2. In the meantime, however, my prayer for you is that your Christmas will be shrouded in praise and peace. If your life has been the opposite of praiseful and peaceful lately—if it’s been crazy and chaotic or if you’ve spent more time whining than worshipping—I’d love to talk to you help you experience the peace of Christ this Christmas. You can pull me aside, call me at home, or come forward now while we stand and sing.
Let’s praise and glorify God together.
