Merry Christmas, my dear Goshen church family! This morning it is my delight to take you on a brief tour of some of the great music inspired by the Advent of Christ. Pause and ponder:
“Angels from the Realms of Glory”: Ye, who sang creation’s story, - Now proclaim Messiah’s birth. Think of the waiting, the longing, by heaven’s angels who were there eons before creation and have watched God’s unfolding plans pan out all through the ages. Think how they applaud the Sovereign Hand in the outworking of his design.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful,” of the infant Jesus: Very God, - Begotten, not created. Hear this bold, biblical word that God’s Son, though truly entering human life, remains “very God.” Thus the Christ child is not a created being even though he fully embraces humanity.
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”: Joyful, all ye nations, rise, - Join the triumph of the skies. Do you hear the Christmas mission mandate? Worshipping hearts can’t resist summoning all the peoples of the world to join in joyful praise to the only Savior, Christ the Lord.
“Joy to the World,” a summons to honor the King: Let every heart prepare Him room, - And heaven and nature sing. It’s not enough just to tip your hat to baby Jesus. Bow down before him, and join the cosmic chorus! The heavens declare the glory of God (Ps 19:1).
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” (this hymn fires my imagination more than any other Christmas carol), vs. 3: Rank on rank the host of heaven - Spreads its vanguard on the way, - As the Light of light descendeth - From the realms of endless day, - That the powers of hell may vanish - As the darkness clears away. Imagine it: for ten trillion years in glory you’ve stood and sung and flown in awe of the eternally supreme Son of God. But now all is changed: heaven’s myriads of angels assemble to witness his descent, a grave humiliation, into lowly birth and toward a despicable cross. It’s breathtaking. You don’t know whether to weep or to cheer: oh, what lengths God goes to in order to remove sin’s affront to his glory and to redeem a lost and ruined people! Never forget: the Light enters a dark world to launch his great counter-attack that will eventually and inevitably banish Satan’s night. Do you feel the immensity of what unfolded that first Christmas?!
