SERMON NOTES:
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” 1849 Dr. Edmund Sears
Not only was the beauty and wonder of the Christmas story woven into this lyrical fabric that was rich and meaningful, but Sears also managed to point out that God, in the form of a child, was entering a world that sorely needed His help. He wanted his congregation and the world to hear those cries as he did.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world hath suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing!
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Oddly enough, understanding the original meaning behind this song—one of the most misunderstood carols of Christmas—also helps explain one of the most misused words describing Christmas itself. What Americans hear when they listen to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is nothing like what the English peasants meant when they first sang this song more than five hundred years ago.
Vs 1 original: “God make you mighty, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. (or, let nothing get you down or steal your joy!)
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day, to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray….”
What makes sense is the literal spiritual warfare dimension of this verse. It is almost a Commander’s cry rallying the troops!
“God is making you mighty men! Have no fear! Lift up your heads, men! Remember, Christ was born on Christmas day to save us from Satan’s power—on our own we go astray, but Jesus is here … we fight on with His might!”
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through Christ Who gives me strength.”
“Silent Night” 1817 Joseph Mohr
Even though “Silent Night” has been recorded more than any other song in history, the fact that we know it at all is a miracle. Created out of necessity and performed in a tiny village on a solitary Christmas Eve by two ordinary Austrians and a tiny choir, this incredibly beautiful and simple carol owes its debut to an organ that wouldn’t play and a priest who wouldn’t hold a Christmas mass without special music. Later, just weeks into the new year, the beloved carol’s march to worldwide popularity was begun by the man who came to fix the faulty instrument.
Vs 1 accents “peace” with is a major theme associated with the coming of Jesus—the long-awaited Messiah.
Vs 2 leans into the Angel’s presence and proclamation that this holy infant of peace is the long-awaited Messiah, who is Savior.
Vs 3 explains the depth and breadth of the Child’s significance.
Notice the placement of the apostrophe on Love’s pure light!
The same God that created the universe, called Abraham, spoke to Moses in the burning bush, the King of kings and Lord of lords has humbled Himself into birth as a human. He is Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.