O Holy Night -
Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same
mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very
nature God,
did not
consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made
himself nothing
by taking the
very nature of a servant,
being made in
human likeness.
And being found in
appearance as a man,
he humbled
himself
by becoming
obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted
him to the highest place
and gave him the
name that is above every name,
that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on
earth and under the earth,
and every tongue
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of
God the Father.
Today’s song is the favorite, “O Holy Night” This is the
story of how it was composed from Wikipedia:
“In Roquemaure at the end of 1843, the church organ had
recently been renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest persuaded
poet Placide Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem. Soon afterwards that same year, Adolphe Adam
composed the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera
singer Emily Laurey.”
In 1855, John Sullivan Dwight composed an English version
that became popular in the United States.
It is the Dwight version that is still popular today. I want to include a literal English
translation of the French original because the words are quite poignant:
“Midnight, Christians, it is
the solemn hour,
When God as man descended unto
us
To erase the stain of original
sin
And to end the wrath of His
Father.
The entire world thrills with
hope
On this night that gives it a
Saviour.
People on your knees, await your
deliverance.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!
May the ardent light of our
Faith
Guide us all to the cradle of
the infant,
As in ancient times a brilliant
star
Guided the Oriental kings
there.
The King of Kings was born in a
humble manger;
O mighty ones of today, proud
of your greatness,
It is to your pride that God preaches.
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
The Redeemer has broken every
bond
The Earth is free, and Heaven
is open.
He sees a brother where there
was only a slave,
Love unites those whom iron had
chained.
Who will tell Him of our
gratitude,
For all of us He is born, He
suffers and dies.
People, stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!”
For me, this beautiful song captures the profound truth of
an even more ancient Christian hymn, the “Christ Hymn” which is our scripture
from Philippians above. First century
Christians sung those verses to remember the nature of Christ’s life here on
earth. There is another reason they sung
it instead of just reading it aloud in worship.
This Christ Hymn is really well-conceived theology. Just me saying that tends to make it seem
cerebral and academic. But Paul (and
other early Christian leaders) knew that singing something has a way of connecting
the head and the heart, thinking and feeling, and knowing and
experiencing. The truth of Christ is
something we are intended to simply retain in our brains. We are supposed to experience the Truth with all
that we are. Singing that Truth helps
that to happen.
That is my experience when I hear an accomplished singer
nail those high notes at the end. (Like Park Kiyoung does in the version I
linked to above). I feel it in the
depths of my soul and I connect that feeling with the whole message the song –
that Christ has redeemed us by becoming one of us. So cue up your favorite version of this song
and feel the Truth of Emmanuel in your toes!
Question: What helps
your faith move from your head to your heart to your hands (what you do)?
Prayer: Thank you for
the gift of music Lord. Use this gift to
inspire, sustain, and multiply our faith until every knee shall bow and every
tongue confess the Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for our Bishop Ken Carter, our District Superintendent June Edwards (who is
retiring at the end of this month), and our new incoming District Superintendent
David Allen.
Song: Park Kiyoung - O
Holy Night
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