The First Noel -
Matthew 2:5-6 - In Bethlehem
in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
‘And you, O Bethlehem in the
land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of
Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people
Israel.’”
Micah 5:2 - But you, O Bethlehem
Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the
people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel, whose
origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
Scholars believe that the lyrics from our carol for today,
The First Noel, date back to the 13th and 14th
centuries. It is believed that the song
was part of one of the Miracle Plays, a popular form of theater where popular
stories or Bible events were dramatized.
If this is true, it makes sense.
The popular song tells the story of the events of Luke 2 and Matthew
2. Since so many Christmas carols focus
on Luke 2, we will focus on Matthew 2.
I have many times tried to point out around Christmas time
the difference between the biblical accounts of Christmas and the stories we
tell about Christmas in our cultural celebrations. This biblical story and song are an example
of the difference. The hymn talks about
three wise men; the Bible does not mention a number (there were three gifts
mentioned). Incidentally, some Eastern Christian traditions celebrate as many
as twelve wise men. Even the translation
“wise men” is a bit of a misnomer; the biblical word is more likely translated
“magi,” which connotes Zoroastrian priests who were experts in reading the
stars. Singing the song, one gets the
feeling that these magi arrived on the night Christ was born. The Bible does not specify when they arrived,
but multi-disciplinary study has concluded that it had to be much later than
the night Jesus was born. These are
minor and relatively unimportant details, but I have a reason for pointing them
out. The songs we sing are important
because they shape our understanding of the stories referred to in the songs.
The early Methodist movement in England was all too aware of
this truth and used it to their advantage.
One of the purposes of Charles Wesley’s prolific hymn-writing was that
it was a clever way to teach theology.
The brothers Wesley knew that people could retain the lyrics to a song
much more easily than remember a simple lesson or sermon on the same
principle. Because of their extensive
use of singing in their Methodist societies and class meetings, the Methodists
were a huge factor in what is now known as a revival of hymnody in the late 18th
and early 19th century church.
Although neither of the Wesley’s wrote “The First Noel,” their movement
is credited with making the Carol popular.
Whether it is miracle plays, re-writing bar songs to teach
theology, or sending out devotions by email/social media, the church has a
history of using whatever means available to communicate the hope, love, joy,
and peace of their faith. This
innovation continues as we continue to worship using online technologies during
a pandemic and the innovation will continue on the other side of this dark
time. As long as we continue to do this
faithfully, it will continue to generate the interest of magi-like seekers and
curious shepherds following the signs that will lead them to our Jesus. Then our Jesus will become their Jesus as
well.
Question: When has a
particular habit or practice of your faith attracted a question or expression
of interest from someone who does not yet know Jesus?
Prayer: God, show us
how our actions and traditions matter.
Show us also how beginning new actions and traditions could matter even
more. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for victims of intense tornados in the southeast US this past week.
First Noel – Pentatonix
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