THE CAROLS OF CHRISTMAS
A Devotional on the Songs Sung that First Christmas
by Max Frazier, Jr.

From the November 2006 Philogian

Some things get better with age, don’t they?  Cheese gets better with age!  Vegetable soup gets better with age!  Christmas gets better with age!  Christmas is always a time of excitement and wonder, no matter what age we are.  As children there is the excitement of anticipation – you remember counting those days and asking the question, “Will Christmas ever get here?” – and of the hope that you would find that special toy under the tree.  As we grow older the focus of that excitement changed from the question of the teenager – “Is it vacation yet?” – to that of the parent – “Are the children and grandchildren getting here soon?”  But through all the excitement, there still is the mystery of the old Christmas story and of the beauty of those special Christmas songs.

I would like to think that the older we get, the more wonderful the Christmas story becomes for us.  Just when we think we know the story so well, God reveals Himself to us through this story in a new way.  And I trust that these moments of reflection upon those first carols of Christmas will give you a new excitement during this special season.

The Carol of the Angels to the Shepherds – Luke 2:8-14

Have you wondered why there was the need for an angelic announcement that night when Jesus was born?  I found that it was the custom in Judea for a newly born child to be heralded by a group of minstrels in the community where he or she was born.  These minstrels would parade around the streets presenting a “musical birth announcement.”  In that way, the whole community could rejoice with the new family. 

Just who were these men to whom this “musical birth announcement” was given?  The Bible simply described them as shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night (Luke 2:8).  These men were despised by the religious community because they could not keep the Law in all its detail.  Hey, sheep needed constant attention.  They wandered easily, especially having no fences.  They were easily attacked by lions and wolves and unable to defend themselves.  And they seemed to always be hungry.  Keeping sheep really was a 24/7 responsibility, thus making it difficult for the shepherds to keep all the rituals the religious leaders required. 

To the world, these men were simple men.  Their lifestyle was very plain.  They did not live in elegant homes, just a lowly sheep corral.  They had no luxurious clothing, just scratchy burlap robes.  And they certainly held no high positions in community leadership; they were just lowly shepherds.  Yet, according to tradition, these shepherds were entrusted with the care of those flocks destined for the altars the next Passover season.  The sacrificial lambs, perfect in form, came from their flocks.  How ironic that these shepherds should be the first to see the Perfect Lamb, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

Sudden, the blackness of the night’s sky was broken with a blinding light, brighter than the noon-day sun.  And that light enveloped these simple shepherds.  As a consequence of that angelic appearance, the Bible states that the shepherds became terrified.  J. B. Philips, in his paraphrase, uses the word “terror-stricken.”  These men now experienced a fear that no lion or wolf had ever instilled in them before.  Did the angel have these men’s attention?  Absolutely.  Sheep were no longer important. Careers were no longer important.  God had their undivided attention.  They were ready to listen to God.  Friends, I wonder how ready we are to listen to God this Christmas Season, or are our minds so distracted by the things of the Season?

The carol sung by the angels was a simple one.  It was a message of joy.  This was a startling message because, in those days, there was no joy in the world.  The Romans had totally subdued everyone.  There had been wars, rebellions, and political intrigue. The land had been ravaged, the women raped and the children abused.  The people held no joy – only hatred and despair.  And there was no joy in religion either.  The heavy interpretation of the Law had become an oppressive burden to the people.  So, why the message of joy now?  The rod of political oppression and religious oppression was not broken.  But there was joy because a Savior was born.  He was someone to confront all the sins of the world with authority.  There was joy because the Christ was born – someone to confront the chaos of the world and to claim all its kingdoms.  There was joy because the Lord was born – someone to lay claim to all of eternity. 

This carol was a message of peace, not a peace like the world seeks. But a peace that comes when a person is in a right relationship with God.  It is the peace that comes when we know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. 

The shepherds accepted both the joy and the peace that was sung to them that first Christmas.  They went and worshiped the infant.  And their lives were forever changed.  The music of Christmas can have that effect upon us even today.

The Carol of Mary after the Angelic Announcement – Luke 1:46-55

The Bible tells us virtually nothing about the background of Mary.  All we are told is: 1) she lived in Nazareth; 2) she was a virgin; and 3) she was betrothed to Joseph.  We do not know her age, although many Bible scholars believe she was in her early teens.  From her song, sung as a response to the excitement of her cousin Elizabeth in seeing her, we know that she must have grown up knowing the stories from the pages of the Old Testament, for her carol abounds with those images.  What I found most interesting about this carol was the absence of one single mention of the child Mary was to birth, yet that child was the centerpiece of the carol.

First, I notice that Mary worships the Lord with her soul (mind) and spirit.  The mind gives expression to what the spirit is experiencing.  That is the key to our worship.  If our spirits have not experienced the presence of God, then our minds cannot praise Him.  It is little wonder that our worship is not meaningful at times.  Our spirits have not rejoiced in God; we have not been freshly touched by the power of the living God.  Therefore, our minds have nothing for which to praise God!

How did Mary celebrate God?  She reflected upon His holiness – for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name (Luke 1:49).  Mary’s experience was similar to that of Moses at the burning bush, or of Isaiah standing in the temple.  Whenever we are confronted by the living God, we are overwhelmed with His holiness. 

She also reflected upon His mercy – His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation (Luke 1:50).  Mercy is God’s immeasurable blessing being extended to an undeserving man.  Mary recognized that she did not deserve God’s gift.  It was only through His mercy that she had been chosen to be His servant. 

God’s power also became part of her carol – He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty (Luke 1:51-53).  The irony of God’s power is that He often reverses things.  Those who are proud – God has a way of humbling (example: Nebuchadnezzar); while those who are humble – God has a way of exalting (example: Joseph in Egypt).  Those who are spiritually starved – God has a way of filling (examples: Nicodemus and the woman at the well); those who are rich and self-satisfied, God has a way of emptying (example: the Church at Laodicea).  God delights to confound the ideals of man (read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). 

Finally, she celebrated God’s faithfulness – He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers (Luke 1:54-55).  I think these two verses form one grand “Amen!” to this carol of Mary.  Friends, everything is true because God is faithful to Himself. 

What is Mary saying in this carol?  I believe that she is saying that in her son, people would see God.  They would see God’s holiness – in Jesus’ rebuking of sin.  They would see God’s mercy – in Jesus’ compassion for people.  They would see God’s power – in the miracles of Jesus.  And they would see God’s faithfulness – in Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Friends, what we really need this Christmas is not more presents, but more of His presence.

Carol of Zacharias after the Birth of John – Luke 1:67-79

Let’s just review for a moment the events that led-up to the singing of this carol.  At least nine-months previous, Zacharias – a priest – was serving God in the temple.  It had been his great opportunity to enter into the Holy Place and put incense upon the altar that stood before the holy veil.  It was while he was there in prayer that the angel of the Lord came and informed him that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child and that he should be called John.  Because both he and Elizabeth were elderly and beyond the time of having children, Zacharias doubted the angel’s word.  He was then stricken with the inability to speak until the child was to be born.  That moment had now arrived and the time for the naming of the child had come.  Zacharias named him John in accordance with the command of the angel.  Suddenly his mouth was opened and this great carol poured forth from a heart full of praise to God.

In verses 68-75, Zacharias celebrates the actions of God in the past, focusing upon a salvation that God had already begun to carry out.  First, this salvation was to be accomplished by a person – He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (Luke 1:69).  Notice, the salvation of mankind did not come through either a philosophy or a way of life, but through a person, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Second, this salvation came as a result of God’s promises – as he said through his holy prophets of long ago (Luke 1:70).  The Old Testament points toward Christ.  Bible scholars tell us that over 400 specific references are found in the Old Testament to the coming of Jesus…and God kept them all!  Third, this salvation was to accomplish at least three things: 1) rescue from our enemies, the greatest being that of sin – salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us (Luke 1:71); 2) restoration to favor with God – to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant (Luke 1:72); and 3) to qualify us for service for God, taking us from the yoke of sin and placing us under the lighter yoke of Christ – and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days (Luke 1:74-75).

Next, Zacharias describes God’s mission for his son, John (verses 76-77).  He was born that he might prepare the way for Christ.  John’s job was to plow the ground; to prepare the hearts of the people for the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was to be a difficult, time-consuming task.  John was also to point people to a God of love and compassion, a God who could identify with people.  (Note: the Greek idea of a god was one who was passionless and detached from all the joys and sorrows of man, while the Jewish idea of God was of a stern and severe Judge who insisted people keep the Law).
Finally, John was to announce the forgiveness of sins.  He was to point out to people their need for forgiveness.  He was to help people see themselves as God saw them.  And, friends, is that not our task as well.  Perhaps during this Christmas Season, God will use you to point someone toward Christ.

Finally, Zacharias closes his magnificent carol with two exciting thoughts about God (verses 78-79).  First, he describes the depth of God’s love.  The expression “tender mercies”, found in verse 78, literally means “bowels.”  This term is often translated “compassion.”  God’s love, demonstrated that first Christmas with the sending of His Son, cannot be described as superficial.  It was a love that was willing to give of its best.  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).  The hymn writer, Charles Wesley, put it this way: “Amazing love!  How can it be!  That Thou, my God, should die for me!”

Second, according to Zacharias, Jesus came to bring light to those who lived in darkness and the shadow of death (verse 79).  The thought behind this verse is of a group of travelers who, before reaching their destination, become overtaken by the darkness of night, huddling in fear not knowing what will happen next.  Suddenly a light appears to lead them to safety and peace.  We live in a world of darkness.  Yet Jesus Christ has come as a light to lead us to peace and safety. 

The Carol of Simeon at the Dedication of Jesus – Luke 2:22-35

Jesus was now eight days old.  According to the Old Testament Law, the first born son in a family belonged to God and needed to be redeemed.  Mary and Joseph traveled the five miles from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to fulfill this Law, taking with them two young pigeons to offer as a redemptive sacrifice on behalf of Jesus.  As they entered the temple, they were greeted by an elderly prophet who resided in Jerusalem.  His name was Simeon.  God had directed him to go to the temple at that time because Simeon was to observe the answer to his prayers.

The Bible tells us that Simeon was a righteous man, a phrase that described his attitude toward his fellow man.  Simeon was a man at peace with his neighbors.  He was respected in Jerusalem.  He was also called a devout man.  This phrase referred to his attitude toward God.  Simeon was a man intimate with God, sensitive to God’s leading and faithful to God’s calling.  Simeon, full of the Holy Spirit, faithfully waited for the coming of the Lord.  As Simeon waited and watched for the coming of the Lord Jesus the first time, am I waiting and watching for His second coming?  Am I paying attention to the promises in the Word and to the events happening in the world?  What an example Simeon is for us.

Simeon’s carol was a celebration of God’s faithfulness.  God had been true to His Word – Sovereign Lord, as you have promised… (Luke 2:29).  Friends, whatever God has shown you from His Word is true.  Not one little item will fail in all that God has said.  Jesus Christ came as the Messiah that first Christmas because God was faithful to His Word.  And, Jesus Christ will come again as the King because God is still faithful to His Word.  Amen!

This carol also focused upon the reason why Jesus came – For my eyes have seen your salvation (Luke 2:30).  Simeon knew that only God could provide the way for man to renew his right standing before God.  Jesus Christ is the only way.  All religions do not lead to God.  For both the Jews and the Gentiles, there is only one way – through Jesus Christ.  Remember Jesus’ words to His disciples, I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).  Don’t let anyone tell you that there is more than one acceptable way to God.  Simeon certainly did not believe it, and neither should you.

Perhaps more important than the carol itself are the words Simeon spoke to Mary that day.  They are recorded for us in verses 34 and 35.  He indicated that the coming of Jesus would force people to make a decision.  Some would reject the salvation that Jesus came to bring, thus condemning themselves.  Others would be lifted out of the miry clay and set upon a high rock.  Simeon also shared with Mary that a sword would pierce her own soul.  Many believe that Simeon was indicating to Mary that her life would be painful with the moment of greatest pain coming as she watched Jesus being crucified. 

These four carols were sung by a collection of first century carolers – an elderly father rejoicing over the birth of his son, a young girl pondering the announcement that she would be the mother of the Son of God, an angelic choir celebrating that birth, and an elderly prophet waiting for the One promised to him and to the world.  Yet they all had a common theme:  Jesus Christ.  He, and He alone, is the reason for the season.  He is the theme of our songs.  So, friends, as you enjoy the music of Christmas, remember the One toward which they all point.  Celebrate Jesus!  Joy to the world!  The Lord has come!  Amen!

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