Luke 2:1-7 English Standard Version
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
“Silent Night” is a favorite Christmas song for many people around the world.
Its gentle swaying melody suggests a “heavenly peace” in which “all is calm.”
But let us listen again to this calmness
Do you hear what I hear? that our usual picture of Jesus’ birth is far from calm.
Above the fields near Bethlehem, sometime in the night, out of nowhere, an angel army disturbs the shepherds calmness, breaks into their evening, shocks them out of their senses, sings out, announcing good news – the glory of God.
The Good News: somewhere back in town, shepherds and wise men and sheep, cows, camels, and gifts are all crowded together around a family inside a stable.
And somewhere in the midst of all that burst of commotion is the baby Jesus.
Trying to stay warm in its swaddling cloths, trying to sleep with cattle lowing.
But hold on.
Let us take a step back for a “silent” moment to sort this exciting business out.
According to Matthew’s Narrative, the three wise men don’t show up until later.
So let’s take them out of the picture, along with their gifts.
And there’s no mention of a stable—just a manger, a hay filled feeding trough.
So there might not be animals making any of their natural sounds there either.
Now let’s back up to the first hour or two after Jesus’ birth.
Commotion will come later, when the shepherds find “Mary and Joseph, and the baby . . . lying in the manger” (Luke 2:16).
But for now, as lamplight flickers, all we can see is Mary, the baby and Joseph.
Hurting, exhausted, Mary is fast asleep. Joseph might be a bit tired too and perhaps, he is able to find somewhere where he can get warmed, and rest too.
Meanwhile, Mary’s snugly wrapped baby, now content from his first first life experience, feeding, sees light, shadow, and movement with his newborn eyes.
Let’s stay right where we are, “silent as the night with the newness of the light just born, shining brighter and brighter and brighter still, in the deep darkness.
And let’s pause here, for just as much time as is needed to take in that picture.
The God of all Creation is the Light – a newborn baby watching shadows sway.
Against What We May Call “Silent Night Holy Night”
Like most people, both believers and non believers, once or twice a year folks, I have sung “Silent Night” hymn many times, often on Christmas Eve in church.
Yet lately, since my open heart surgery, contemplating my life as I do now, the “silence” referred to in the iconic carol recently took on new meaning to me.
The word “silence” appears many places in Scripture.
but I found much more than just an absence of sound in several references.
STARTLING SILENCE
In Revelation chapter 8, silence creates a uniquely powerful scene.
John writes, “When he [the Lamb] opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half an hour” (Revelation 8:1 NIV).
While John describes many things, creatures and beings in heaven prior to this, it is suddenly unfathomable that it all goes silent as described in this moment.
In this silence is a depth of awe, deep reverence, reflection, and anticipation like nothing before, as the revelation of Jesus Christ is about to come to fulfillment.
THE PRAISE OF SILENCE
In the prophetic book Habakkuk, we see another reminder of the reverent place of silence – The Word says, “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him” (Habakkuk 2:20 NIV).
And in the prophetic book Zephaniah, we see “Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near” (Zephaniah 1:7 NIV).
There is mounting, maturing praise within the silence of a God-fearing heart.
A SILENT NIGHT?
Luke 2:6-7 Amplified Bible
6 While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for her to give birth, 7 and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in [[a]swaddling] cloths and laid Him in a [b]manger, because there was no [private] room for them in the inn.
The popular carol declares that the night of Jesus’ birth was a “silent night,” a “holy night” with all “calm and bright.”
But, think about it has any woman ever given birth in complete silence or calmness, what would her smile sound like, her joy, her tears sound like?
It’s hard for me to imagine that the animals weren’t making their natural sounds, especially among the sudden unrest, unexpected commotion in the stable; the sound of a newborn crying or that Joseph wasn’t offering a word of encouragement, a prayer, or a declaration of praise as Mary was giving birth.
Was that ancient setting really like an inanimate, decorative tabletop nativity set that we are used to seeing in our homes, our churches, or live nativities ?
Knowing what is in my heart right now, rehabilitating from my heart surgery, looking even deeper than ever before into the eyes of my wife, listening to my dog barking -it seems unlikely that the momentous night was literally silent.
The lyrics of the song simply frame the event in wonderfully poetic terms.
Luke 2:6-7 Amplified Bible
6 While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for her to give birth, 7 and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in [[a]swaddling] cloths and laid Him in a [b]manger, because there was no [private] room for them in the inn.
But perhaps what is true, what is hidden, waiting to be revealed in us, from deep within us, is that there was this ever growing and maturing holy atmosphere of silent praise, would be an indescribably raucous act of worship pleasing to God.
Realize: on that ancient night, in that ancient time, there was so much more to observe, to listen to, to speak of this particular silent night than a lack of sound.
A CHALLENGE
My challenge, then, as Christmas Eve, Christmas approaches, as we get all of ourselves ready to go to evening or midnight church, as we sit in all our pews is for us not to, as we hold lighted candles or even fake ones, sing “Silent Night” envisioning only a perfectly still and orderly scene with everyone comfortable and content – for in reality – comfortable and content were far from the truth.
Instead, let’s intentionally try to grasp deep in our hearts what was surely the ultimate awe, reverence, reflection, and anticipation that humankind had ever experienced as God Himself entered the world in human form – a crying child.
This Christmas, let us not be without praise even if we can somehow be without the usual noise and commotion – within the silent night, let us declare a godly silence as the true act of worship at the revelation of He who is worthy of it all.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 23 King James Version
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
1. Silent night, holy night,
all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin
mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
3. Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
4. Silent night, holy night,
wondrous star, lend thy light;
with the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848; trans. by John F. Young, 1820-1885 (sts 1, 2, 3) and anon. (st 4)
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 