Advent: December 4th

Luke 2:8-14 | "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" | "Christmastime Is Here"

Painting “Seeing Shepherds” by Daniel Bonnell, 2011 (used with permission)¹

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As you can see, I am not following the chronology of the Christmas story for this Advent series. We started with the angel’s visit to Mary, then went to Isaiah, and then to the wise men and Old Testament adumbrations of them, and now we are back in Luke for what many consider the classic Christmas text. In part, I started with the music, selecting songs in an order that felt right to me as the days progress toward Christmas, and have been picking passages of Scripture to go with those.

As silly as it might sound, this text, in the King James, makes me think of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and Linus’ recitation at the school play rehearsal. Partly for that reason, and because it is one of those songs that announce the start of the season, I chose “Christmastime Is Here” as the fun song.

Something that song does well is bundle joy and sadness. The melody is sad and wistful, but the lyrics almost couldn’t be more joyful. They do have a tinge of yearning and nostalgia to them, and that also is fitting this time of year.

Olden times and ancient rhymes

is also a fantastic line that savors of Yuletide.

I wonder if the announcement of praise the host of angels delivered had a note of yearning in it too. I doubt it was sung, but we don’t know. If it was, I imagine it would sound something like a stadium of Welsh soccer fans belting out “Sospan Fach”. But either way, it must have been as overwhelming as the base of a giant waterfall.

As I read over this text again, there is something wonderful about how the angel says to the shepherds, “there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” It was for them. Not only them, but it was for them. Imagine hearing that spoken to you by an angel in the night. Imagine how many others those angels would have wanted to shout the good news to. What if they did? What if, to villagers in India, to desert nomads in Africa, to the Maya in a jungle clearing by a pagan temple, a host of heavenly warriors and heralds shouted the word about the birth of God as a human?

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:8-14

Christmas hymn: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (I recommend the version by Chanticleer, Robin Wells, and Reginald Jacques)

Christmas fun song: “Christmastime Is Here”

Prayer: O gracious God, you have poured your kindness on us by giving us a savior. It is fitting that the most joyful and bright celebration of the year is in response to this great gift.

It is a horrific sadness that men do not all know what you have done. Your word went to lowly shepherds in the field. You chose to proclaim good news to those who could not make you look good in the eyes of the world, and in this same way you continue to seek and save the lowly and meek and poor and contrite. We ask that you reveal yourself to all men and complete the reign of Christ on earth, so that everything is brought into submission under his feet.

Let this Advent be one that marks a great revival in this world. We ask this longing to see more of you and see your truth vindicated amid an unbelieving world, and we ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.

1. https://bonnellart.com/the-christmas-art-of-daniel-bonnell/seeing-shepherds?rq=seeing%20shepherds