Title: “The First Christmas Carol” Scripture: Lk. 2:14
Type: Christmas Where: GNBC 12-5-21
Intro: I love the Christmas Season in part because I love singing Christmas Carols. Christmas Carols are ta unique genre of song. According to Classic Radio FM Digital, the Top 10 greatest Christmas Carols of all time are ranked as: 10 – Mass. Pastor Edmund Sears’ “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” 9- Following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rector Phillips Brooks wrote the text to this hymn after he was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine wrote: “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” 8 – 16th Century Coventry Carol which dates back to the 16th cent. and commemorates the Massacres of the Innocents. 7- “O Come O Come Emmanuel” was translated from the Latin into English in 1861. 6 – “O Come All Ye Faithful” has a mysterious origin with either Portugal’s King King John IV or Francis Wade being credited. 5- “Hark the Herald Angels” had the twin genius of Charles Wesley lyrics and Mendelssohn’s tune. 4 & 3– “IN the Bleak Mid Winter” – Depending upon which version. Harold Darke or Gustav Holst. 2. “Silent Night” Originally written in German, ‘Stille Nacht’ was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr, and was translated to English in 1859. During the Christmas truce of 1914 during World War I, the carol was sung simultaneously by English and German troops. 1. “O Holy Night” - Placide Cappeau, a wine seller from southern France, was asked by the local parish priest to write a festive poem in 1847 to celebrate the church organ’s renovation. Cappeau felt it should be accompanied by music, so approached his friend Adolphe Charles Adams. Adams’ text reflects on the birth of Jesus and of humanity’s redemption. Christmas Carols are wonderful. Today, I want to take time to examine the very first Christmas Carol ever sung.
Prop: Today I want to explore 4 Thoughts in Relation to the First Christmas Carol Ever Sung.
BG: 1. Examine one verse. Very familiar part of the Christmas story. Is the song the Angelic Choir sang.
2. Often at Christmas we are made to wonder at the angels’ appearance. No less a man than Charles Spurgeon said: ‘It is superstitious to worship angels; yet is proper to love them. Although it would be a high sin against Heaven’s Court to pay the slightest adoration to an angel, it would be unkind and unseemly, if we did not love them. When we consider their character and their acts of kindness towards man, we cannot help but love them. When we consider this one incident in history, it is enough to weld our hearts to them forever.”
3. What was that event? The singing of the first Christmas Carol!
Prop: Let’s Explore 4 Thoughts in Relation to the first Christmas Carol Ever Sung.
I. Prepatory (Instructive) Thoughts
A. Consider the Instructive Thoughts of this Brief Song.
1. It’s Brevity is in Part it’s Beauty.
a. V. 14 – Depending on your version, it should be about 17 words. Not a lot of lyrics to consider. Yet, how powerful were the words sung to announce the Savior’s birth!
b. Illust: On Nov. 19, 1863, 2 speeches were given to dedicate the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA, on the site where 4.5 months previously the deadliest battle in American history had taken place. Edward Everett, the famed orator and former Harvard College president spoke for over 2 hours. President Abraham Lincoln was the other. Lincoln was suffering the early stages of Smallpox, and spoke less than 275 in under 2.5 minutes. Yet, no one remembers Everett’s speech, and Lincoln’s used to be a required memorization for HS graduation. Although was brief, was a thing of beauty.
2. The Angels Sang About Something Men Could Understand.
a. The angels were singing about Jesus who was born in a manger. This is the foundation. They sang of Christ. They sang of the salvation which He came to bring to the world.
b. The Psalmist asked the question : “If the Lord marks iniquity, who should stand?”(Ps. 130) This query is obviously rhetorical. The only answer, indeed the obvious answer is no one.The question is stated in a conditional form. It merely considers the dire consequences that follow if the Lord marks iniquity. We breathe a sigh of relief saying, “Thank heavens the Lord does not mark iniquity!” How or why is that the case? Without Christ’s incarnation it does not happen.
B. The Angel’s Carol Spoke Three Important Truths About Salvation.
1. The First Important Truth: This Salvation Gave Glory to God.
a. First, this song of salvation gave glory to God. They sang at the creation. Job 38:6-7 tells us: “On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Undoubtedly they saw God’s creation of many a planet. They had sung solemn songs over the world Jehovah had created. Certainly we know that they had often chanted: “Blessing and honor and glory and majesty and power and dominion, and might be unto Him that sitteth on the throne” (Rev. 5:13; Rev. 7:12). Maybe every time they saw God create another object, hang another star or planet in place, their song received another note, a higher note of praise. But dear one, when they saw Jesus Christ, the 2nd Member of the Trinity, stoop from His eternal heavenly throne to become a bae to initiate the salvation of man they reached the pinnacle of the scale of praise and they sang: “Glory to God in the highest!”
b. Many scholars think this was sung by the Cherubim that perpetually keep watch and offer praise around the throne of God. The 4 living creatures with 6 wings and eyes all around. Possibly they were joined by the “inferior” angels. We know not, but I know one thing for certain, no mortal can imagine how magnificent that song was!
c. What is the important lesson we learn in the first syllable of this song? It is this: “Salvation is God’s Highest Glory!” Illust: God is praised in the sun and moon and stars, the majesty of mountains and trees, He is magnified in every flower that blossoms, every baby born, in every fish in the sea, every piece of art or literature or performance dedicated to Him. But there is no song so sweet as the Incarnation of Christ! There is more melody in the manger of Christ than the Mormon Tabernacle singing the Messiah for a Millennium!
d. Illust: Let me make one side note of application: If this is the song of Salvation which most glorifies God and makes the highest creatures of creation praise Him, then there is no place in salvation for any doctrine that glorifies man. The angels did not believe in any doctrine which uncrowns Christ by making salvation dependent upon the decision of the creature and not the Creator! The glad tidings which made the angels sing are those that put Christ first, last, and everything in between! “Glory to God in the highest!”
2. The 2nd Important Truth: This Salvation Gave Peace to Man.
a. The song of salvation which the angels sang was in some ways an old song: “Glory to God in the highest” the angels had been singing that song from the foundation of the world. But now they sang a new song for they added the next stanza which stated: “And on earth peace among men”. Illust- After man’s fall in the garden (Gen. 3) , when the cherubim with fiery swords barred its entrance (Gen. 3:24) there was no peace on earth! Wars have raged. Men have killed. Hatred and envy and strife have been the norm.
b. But when Christ came, wrapped as it were in the swaddling cloth of the white flag of peace. The manger was the place where the process began whereby the peace treaty would be signed wherein man could find peace with God (Rom. 5:1) peace with our conscience (Heb.10:22) and peace with our fellow man (Rom. 12:18)
3. The 3rd Important Truth: This Salvation Gives God’s Good Will Toward Mankind.
a. The third note of this simple song states: “Good will to man.” I know a lot of people who live under the impression that God hates them. That God intentionally makes life difficult. That He is sitting in the sky just watching to make sure no one has fun and if they do…WHAM! But that’s not the case…look at the Bible!
b. Illust: God has good will toward you. Before I was a Christian I took God’s Name in vain. A lot. I cursed God a lot. God did not curse me. Maybe you are an infidel. Mock Christ and His Word. Sinned happily and hardily. He has good will toward you although you hate Him. Wretched Sinner: You know you have failed to keep His laws. You fel the weight of your sin. You are afraid to come to the mercy seat because you know how putrid your heart is. Good News! He doesn’t despise you! He has good will for you!
C. Applic: The Angelic Chorus spoke salvific truths to the heart of man!
II. Poignant (Emotional) Thoughts
A. The Angel’s Song Should Stir Your and My heart with Happiness.
1. The Angel’s Song should evoke happiness within.
a. Illust: I have gotten to be old enough that my era’s music is now played in department stores and on elevators! Still, when a song from my youth, my teenage years is played, many will evoke a powerful, often pleasant, memory.
b. “If then the angels ushered in the gospel’s great Head with singing, shouldn’t we preach with singing, should we not live our faith with singing, shouldn’t our hearts and spirit’s rejoice continually?” (Spurgeon). Phil. 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always!” To put it another way, if the highest of the Angelic order ushered in the Salvation’s Savior, to which they would receive no benefit, shouldn’t you and I as recipients of that divine favor sing with gusto?! (Illust- Have only known 1 person in my whole life fit the bill. George Megahey! George would sing anywhere and at any time. You could be having a conversation with him and break into song! Joyful
2. The Angel’s Song announced
a. On the night Jesus was born something spectacular took place. The plains of Bethlehem became the theater for one of the most spectacular sound-and-light shows in human history. All heaven broke loose. The angelic visitor was surrounded by the glory of God. The glory was shining. This glory did not belong to the angel himself. It was God's glory, signifying His divine mode of being.
b. When the shepherds of Bethlehem quaked in fear, they were admonished by the angel: "Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11, NKJV). Every human being longs for a savior of some type. We look for someone or something that will solve our problems, ease our pain, or grant the most elusive goal of all, happiness. From the pursuit of success in business to the discovery of a perfect mate or friend, we make our search. Even in the preoccupation with sports we show a hope for a savior. As a sports season ends with far more losers than winners, we hear the cry from cities across the land—"Wait till next year!" ( Illust: Story of Wayne Williams – Father a life long Cub’s fan died in 1980. Before Died made a pact with son that when the Cubs got into the World Series they would listen together. Nov.2, 2016, Williams drove from NC to Greenwood, IN, to sit in the cemetery at his father’s grave, listening to their team finally win!) The angels’ pronouncement was: “The Waiting is Over!” Our Response is to be joy!
B. There are Emotions this Carol Should Evoke in every Christian.
1. This Carol Should Evoke the Emotion of Joy in the Christian.
a. The first Carol evokes Joy in the heart of the believer. All too often individuals sentimentalize Christmas as a helpless baby born separate from His mission.
b. Illust: The popular carol Joy to the World was penned by Isaac Watts in his Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719). Watts paraphrased scores of psalms through the lens of their fulfillment in the redemptive work of Christ. Though Watts never intended for the hymn to be sung merely during Advent, most hymnals properly list it as a Christmas carol. During Advent we celebrate the threefold advent of Christ in His incarnation, His dwelling in our hearts by His Spirit, and His glorious return at the last day. These three aspects are each portrayed in Watts’ hymn, Joy to the World. All 3 evoke JOY!
2. This Carol Should Evoke the Emotion of Confidence in the Christian.
a. Illust: In much of modern Evangelicalism today, our confidence as believers is seen in coming from our testimony. The more dramatic the more supposed confidence. Less dramatic, less confidence. Not true. Nor should it ultimately be the focus. Justifying faith faith cannot be without a firm persuasion of the promises of God. Writing on predestination, Calvin quipped that if someone were to ask him how he is to know that he is elect, his answer would be “Christ is more than a thousand testimonies to me.” That is, being persuaded of the veracity of the promises of God made certain in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus provide a more substantial ground of assurance than a thousand outward attestations of faith (both in personal good deeds and in verbal compliments paid by our peers). In other words, man’s praise should be cast at the foot of the cross.
b. The first Carol evokes Confidence in the heart of the believer because a myriad of God’s promises came true in Christ!
C. Applic: Writing his commentary on Hebrews, John Calvin said the following: “Faith cannot be without a settled peace of mind, from which proceeds the bold confidence of rejoicing,”
III. Predictive (Prophetic) Thoughts
A. I see Unfulfilled Prophecy in these Angelic Utterances.
1.What do the Angels proclaim?
a. “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” Yet, that promise was not immediately fulfilled. Shortly after this proclamation of peace, Herod would slaughter Bethlehem’s “innocents” (Mt. 2:16-18). Certainly there was no peace for those dozens of children or their families.
b. Illust: We look around us today. Do we see peace? We see pride in perversion. We see our own holocaust of innocents (I am so grateful that after 50 years the Supreme Court is now going to carefully consider the Pros and Cons of Baby murder!) We see race-baiting politicians and their elitist handlers stirring the pot of hatred. We see tyranny “masked” (Pun intended!) in the guise of health and safety as nations forfeit their peoples’ freedom and enforce dictatorial edicts. I see God forgotten in the public square. No manger in Iowa City, yet painted oracles to the new “gods” of our own making and in our own image that we adore. I see the world racing to pursue mammon at the expense of honor, integrity, honesty, or even a passing concern for the poor. I see ambition riding like Nimrod over the land. Instead of beating our swords into plowshares or spears into pruning hooks (Is.2:4), I see a world where an incompetent and tired old man abandons $85 billion in weapons to the enemy of the free world. I see our addiction to pills, pot, and pharmaceutical (Be they legal or illegal.). And I see a world of utter hopelessness with overdoses and suicides outpacing the most popularized pandemic in history.
2. The Church will survive in the midst of this suffering.
a. Christ said “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18) The church is never told that it is to escape tribulation. The Greek word “thlipsis” (“tribulation”) is used 55 x in the NT, and 47 of these relate to tribulation to be endured by the saints. The same word is used in Mt 24:21 of the great tribulation. 1 Thess. 4:17 describes the church “meeting” the Lord in the air but does not say that the Lord takes the church on to heaven prior to 3½ or 7 years. Throughout Revelation 6-18, the people of God are present and this includes the church. There is no clear Biblical support to exclude the church from these tribulation passages. 2 Thess 2 describes believers who thought they were enduring the day of the Lord. If they believed in a pre-trib rapture, they wouldn’t have thought so. Nor had it been the teaching of the early Church that everything was going to just keep getting better until “poof” one day everyone was a believer with Covenant Families filled with House Hold Salvations. Rather, the Apostle tells them that their current persecution is not the Day of the Lord, not that they will be spared from it.
B. Yet friend, Christ will come again!
1. We can Trust in the 2nd Advent of Christ as Much as We Can in the 1st Advent.
a. Why? Because both are based on the plans and promises of God. For as much as I look around and see that is not right in our world, I know without a shadow of doubt that will all change one day!
b. Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis, they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people.
2. As
a. Illust: “When a young soldier came home from Afghanistan his parents threw a party like non before it. One of the most memorable aspects of the celebration was the soldier’s father. Richard was an engineer who checked all the boxes. He was far more glad to be seen than heard but would prefer both. Not on this day, however! Richard was exuberant, showing pictures of his son’s unit, recounting to all who would listen tales of his son’s heroism. Men and women who had spent long months praying for the unit’s safe return raised their voices in praise and celebration. It was a joyous day!” (Credit: David Jeremiah)
b. Consider this dear one. Our Lord will return one day, possibly soon, leading heaven’s armies. It will be the most decisive victory ever seen. All that is wrong will be made right. Satan will lose his grip on the affairs of man. Not one believer will be lost! When Christ returns God and His angels will celebrate all the way from heaven to earth. Mt. 16:27 says: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
C. Applic: “peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Are you saved?
IV. A Few Closing Pedantic Thoughts
If this is a time of peace on earth and good will towards men, let it start with us. You have a child who has offended you? Fetch him or her this Christmas! Make peace on earth in your family. You have a brother or sister you vowed to never speak to again? Extend the grace of peace! You have someone at war with in business or in your program of study or sport? Extend peace! Demonstrate good will towards those around you. Are you an employer? Give some generous gifts or time off. Tell everyone of the good news given to us in the first Christmas Carol of all: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
(This sermon was outlined with inspiration from Charles Spurgeon's classic sermon with the same title.)
