Just as they had been told
Notes
Transcript
Back in 1847, in a small French town, the parish priest reached out to a local poet named Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure (Pla-cede Ca-po de Rowq-mar) to write a poem for an upcoming Christmas mass. Now Placide was not a church going man - maybe the priest thought it was a way to get him thinking theologically - but whatever the motivation was, Placide did begin to think about the birth of Christ. And he was inspired to write “Cantique de Noel” which, when he read it over, was very pleased with. As he thought about his poem, he decided that it needed to be a song - so he reached out to a friend, a musician named Adolphe Charles Adams. Adolphe was a famous classical musician and he agreed to put the poem to music. Interestingly, Adolphe was a Jew and he did not believe in Jesus, but he composed the music and the song was performed at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in 1847.
“Cantique de Noel” became popular in France and was sung in many Christmas services. Unfortunately, Placide Cappeau completely left the church to join a socialist movement and when it was also discovered that the composer was a Jew, the French church leaders decided “Cantique de Noel” was unfit for church services. Even so, the French people continued to sing it.
Ten years pass by and an an American writer, John Sullivan Dwight, was moved by the song when he heard it. Dwight was an abolitionist and the 3rd verse caught his attention: “Truly he taught us to love one another; his law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother; and in his name all oppression shall cease.” Dwight preceded to publish his English translation of “O Holy Night” and the song quickly became popular in the states, especially in the North during the Civil War.
Back in Europe, a few years later, the French were engaged in war with Germany - the Franco Prussian War. According to an article by Josh Weidmann, “On Christmas Eve in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, an intense battle was taking place between French and German soldiers. Suddenly, a French soldier jumped from the trenches, exposing himself to the enemy’s fire.
Before either side could figure out what to do, he began singing Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night). Each side stood frozen as he sang of the birth of the Messiah. As the last chords of his solo faded into the night, a German soldier emerged from his hideout and began to sing From Heaven Above to Earth I Come, a popular Christmas carol in Germany. Both sides apparently joined together to sing an Austrian carol, and fighting ceased for the following 24 hours.
No one is really sure if this event actually happened, but there is enough evidence to piece together a story and believe something like this did once occur. Those soldiers obviously had some differences between them, and yet they were able to lay those differences aside for one night in order to celebrate something they had in common: Christ and His birth.”
It was shortly after this Christmas miracle story of peace in the trenches began to spread that the French church once again embraced “Cantique de Noel” in holiday services.
There is still more to the story of this song. On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden–a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison–did something ground breaking. Fessenden was the first man to speak into a microphone and broadcast his voice on the airwaves. His first words were the Nativity story: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed,” he began in a strong voice hoping that his experiment was working. It was - radio operators on ships and in newsrooms began picking up the broadcast. After he recited the Nativity story - Fessenden picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves.
Ann H Gabhardt, on her blog, sums up the story of this song, “Since “O Holy Night” was first sung at a small Christmas mass in 1847, the song has been sung millions of times in churches in every corner of the world. And since the moment a handful of people first heard it played over the radio, the carol has gone on to become one of the most recorded and played spiritual songs. This incredible work, requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would later split from the church, given soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to Americans to serve as much as a tool to spotlight the sinful nature of slavery as tell the story of the birth of a Savior has become one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created. The Lord can work in amazing ways to proclaim his Word.”
I share this backstory, one because I love the song and I find this story fascinating and I hope you do as well, but also because of the song’s tie in to Luke’s Nativity passage. Especially, the story of the Shepherds tending their flocks by night when suddenly they experienced a night shift like no other. My first job as a teenager was working the night shift at Hardees on Salisbury blvd across from the college. If you’ve ever worked the night shift anywhere - you know that there is always the possibility of something crazy happening.
But that night 2000 some years ago takes the cake. Can you imagine, one minute you are watching a bunch of sheep sleep - next minute you are listening to a heavenly choir of angels singing praises to God? It was so frightening the angel had to say “Chill - I got some good news for you.”
That is what I believe old Placide was referring to when he wrote the lines:
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
Think about it. God had sent Word that His Son was coming into the world - and the receiving audience were among the lowest class of citizens - uneducated shepherds. Thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy found in Isaiah 61:1
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Good news came to the poor that Holy Night.
Once the angels left, we are told the shepherds made haste to Bethlehem, the city of David, “to see this thing that has happened that the Lord has told us about.”
The pronouncement of good news leads to action. Go and see, so they got up and went. What have you done with the Word you have received? Have you acted upon it?
Here is another observation about this account. Mary and Joseph did not hear the angelic choir. We sing of a Holy Night, but for Mary it was labor and delivery. Joseph had done his best to find a place for her to give birth, a cave surrounded by livestock was what he had to work with. It is unlikely that either of them had heard anything more from the Lord since 9 months prior when the angel visited Mary and Joseph had his dream to take Mary as his wife. They had the promise - but every step up until that point had been in faith. One hardship after another.
Then, out of nowhere, the shepherds show up. A joyous, bewildered group of unlikely characters coming to see for themselves what they had been told. A child lying in a feeding trough wrapped in strips of linen.
When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child.
And what had they been told?
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Savior, Christ, Lord.
This baby would be the one who will save you. He is the anointed one (Christ in Greek, Messiah in Hebrew) - the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation. And He is Lord.
This newborn baby of common parents in a stinky stall on the outskirts of the city is the One the angels said will cause great joy for all the people.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
God’s Word is true. The Shepherds heard what God said, and then they saw it for themselves and it was just as it had been told to them. Have you read God Word for yourself? Have you looked into it - pondered what is written - considered all that has been said and how it applies to you? The Shepherds did and it resulted in songs of glory and praise.
It is wonderful to be here in this beautiful sanctuary 2000 some years later, gathered together with all of you for a midnight service, knowing that we are joining in with congregations all around the world today remembering the birth of our Savior. But it is also troubling that so many today do not know the story, or know bits and pieces of it but have no idea why it matters. Last week, Butch and I were leading Bible study at the local detention center and we were studying this particular passage. I asked what the Nativity story means to them, and two of our students said they had no idea and never really heard the story. I’m not sharing this in a judgmental way - they were eager to know it - but it illustrates the broader reality of our society. Many have drifted away from the Christian message. And while there are several causes for this - including the poor witness of the Church at times as well as the spirit of the age in which we live - I will say that this particular church is set on changing the dynamic here in Cambridge. Our congregation knows that the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ matters. We have received the good news and we are acting upon it. We are engaged in serving our community and sharing the love of God with everyone we come across.
I’m not saying this to pat ourselves on the back there is much work to be done — but I do want to make it clear as the spiritual leader of Grace - we are committed to carrying out the mission that Jesus gave His church - to go and make disciples of all nations. To carry the light of Christ into this dark world. And we invite all to come and join in on this exciting work.
And with that I say to you, Merry Christmas!
Amen.