So in this blog post I will be making you a map through Christmas hymns and the Bible. Each hymn just takes a different piece of the Christmas Story and sings it. I would recommend you grab your Bible or open Bible Gateway to follow along as you read this article. I have written this in a devotional form. So you can read the verses then read my thoughts. As you read the verses of the Christmas story, pay attention to the glimpses of God’s character. A lot of times it is easy to overlook those things in stories we know so well. Without further ado…
Be Born in Me — Luke 1:26-38
Can you imagine her fear? She was defiantly shunned by her community whose relationships were held very highly in the culture. The only reason she lost that community was she said yes to God and her heart was in the right place. It had to be really hard on Mary when her pregnancy became visible and she could no longer hide it. She was definitely scared, but a few verse later we see her praising God. (Come back next week for a more detailed song story.)
Mary Did You Know? — Luke 1:46-56
What an amazing girl. We don’t know if she knew everything that this song asks, but we do know she was willing and excited for the things God promised. Without knowing everything, she trusted God that this child would be the fulfillment of prophecy. That would be amazing to know that your long awaited Savior was coming, and He was in you. Mary must have felt joyful, I am sure the joy over powered all the fear she felt also.
The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard on High, Away In a Manger, Silent Night, Joy to the World, O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, and so many more. — Luke 2:1-21
I noticed that most Christmas songs revolve around this event, which makes a lot of sense considering it is the main event of Christmas. At the same time though, it is interesting because a lot of the songs have to do with the Angles and the Shepherds. I find that so interesting but accurate. His birth is not main event of His life to focus on, and Luke did a great job showing that. He made it clear that Jesus came into the world to find the lost and love those who others thought were unworthy. By singing so many songs about the shepherds, we get a picture of Jesus’s mission to be the shepherd and love the sheep (See Matthew 18:10-14).
We Three Kings— Matthew 2:1-12
It can be really easy to forget the kings. When I wrote the first draft of this I forgot them. We forget them 1) because their story is not in the same book as all the others and 2) they play a seemingly insignificant roll in the Christmas story. These Maji or kings as we more often call them, have a very small roll but they changed the life of a family. The gave gifts of unthinkable value for a family who had a small income. I think they blessed Mary and Joseph more than Jesus. The Maji’s simple act made Joseph and Mary feel like capable parents with back up savings. I remember a sermon I heard a while ago about how these wise men were really wise because they moved out of their comfort zone. They had a pretty ordinary story, yet they moved into a more extraordinary one. (You can listen to the fun sermon here, is part two The Wonder of the Star.)
So many hymns and songs have been written about Jesus’ birth which is truly an extraordinary birth. He truly was honored like a king even though He was born in a barn. As you listen to Christmas music, think about the story of redemption God so mercifully planned. Be like Mary by not shying from saying yes to the things God has in store for you. Tell the world that Jesus is born for all. Put your ordinary story into the bigger story of God.
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