The Christmas season is in full swing and I can’t pass up the opportunity to share some of my favorite Christmas songs as we near the end of our Post Tenebras Lux series on songs for the weary, grieving, and hopeless. This post is meant to tell the Christmas story using the various favored songs of the season, some of which may be new to you, others will be glorious songs of old.
Christmas is the epitome of post tenebras lux. If you’ve followed this series, or if you are fluent in Latin, you know this phrase means “after darkness, light.” And if you know Bible history at all, you know where I’m going with this. The Old Testament ends bleakly with the words, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” There is hope given, but a terrible threat. And then…
Nothing.
Four hundred years of silence from the I AM who revealed Himself to Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and multiple prophets. Separation from God is the uttermost darkness there is. The people had heard from God time and time again through the prophets, regardless of the fact that they did not heed their words, but they at least had some form of communication. Until there wasn’t. And then…
“In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan. Earth stood cold as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter long ago.” (In the Bleak Midwinter: words by Christina Rosetti, music by Gustav Holst)
You know the story. It was a bleak situation for Mary when an angel told her she was pregnant before she was married. Her fiancé had every reason to have her stoned to death, and she knew full well it was lawful to do so. But hope reigned here first in the heart of Joseph as he chose to preserve the life of his beloved and the Son of God. And then…
“See the virgin is delivered in a cold and crowded stall, mirror of the Father’s glory lies beside her in the straw. He is mercy’s incarnation, marvel at this miracle, for the virgin gently holds the glorious impossible.” (Glorious Impossible: Wendy Wills, Carl Cartee, and Joe Beck)
“Joy has dawned upon the world, promised from creation. God’s salvation now unfurled, hope for every nation. Not with fanfare from above, not with scenes of glory, but a humble gift of love, Jesus born of Mary.” (Joy Has Dawned, Keith and Kristyn Getty)
“When suddenly there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13) Gloria in excelsis Deo! All at once, 400 years of silence are broken as “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply echo back their joyous strains. GLORIA!” 400 years of darkness are pierced by the Light of the world in the dawning of the King.
“Come behold the wondrous mystery in the dawning of the King, He the theme of heaven’s praises robed in frail humanity. In our longing, in our darkness, now the light of life has come. Look to Christ who condescended, took on flesh to ransom us.” (Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery, Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, Michael Bleeker)
The God of creation transcends the veil to once again dwell with His people. He once physically walked with Adam and Eve until their sin caused Him to be withdrawn from them personally. Then He communicated directly with a few to bring His message of forgiveness to those who would repent. He dwells with His people through cloud and fire, “walking” with them in their wanderings as He drew them to Himself in the portable tabernacle. Then He withdrew again as they sought for themselves a king they could see and hear and touch. More messages of repentance and forgiveness, and warning to those who would not heed His commands. Then, He is withdrawn again for four hundred years. But in the person of Jesus Christ born that first Christmas morning, He moves ever closer toward communion with His bride who would reject Him, and ultimately kill Him.
“Who is this? Behold him shedding drops of blood upon the ground! Who is this, despised, rejected, mocked, insulted, beaten, bound? ‘Tis our God, Who gifts and graces on His church is pouring down; Who shall smite in holy vengeance all His foes beneath His throne.” (Who is This, Indelible Grace)
The Christmas story is the true beginning to the rest of our story. A baby who was born without kingly pomp and circumstance is sought by shepherds, the lowliest of society who were first told the good news of great joy to worship Him in a common dwelling rather than a temple built with gold. He grew to be a common man with societal fascination as He performed miracles. Their fascination turned to anger and hatred as He made claims to be God. The following He garnered in His calling of some and the random following of the fascinated all fell away when it looked like maybe they were wrong the whole time as soldiers carted Him off to be tried for blasphemy and sedition. The king they thought they were following wasn’t quite what or who they expected, and they just didn’t understand. They believed Jesus was who He said He was, but they weren’t willing to die for it until He did… and came back to life.
“Come behold the wondrous mystery slain by death the God of life, but no grave could e’er restrain Him, praise the Lord; He is alive! What a foretaste of deliverance, how unwavering our hope; Christ in power resurrected as we will be when he comes!” (Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery)
You can’t tell the story of the baby in a manger without also telling the story of the man who died, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven where He awaits His ultimate reunion with His people when He finally returns to dwell with His people again forever. And as we tell this story, we may be tempted to think that four hundred years doesn’t seem so bad when it’s been 2000 years for us since Christ said he was coming back again as He rose into the clouds. But we are not in darkness like the intertestamental period (the time between the old and new testaments). Jesus didn’t withdraw leaving us with nothing. He took another step closer to us through the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells within those who believe, a guarantee of our inheritance in Christ. We have light and truth within us through the Holy Spirit so we are not wandering in darkness or silence. We have this hope that one day, our God will dwell with us again. He will make all things new, as they once were. He will right every wrong. He will wipe every tear. And we will come and worship Him forever. It is for this reason we come to the baby in a manger and adore Him as our Savior, our King, our God.
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels. O come let us adore Him, o come let us adore Him, o come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!” (O Come All Ye Faithful; attributed author, John Francis Wade)
Here is one last song for the hurting and longing heart in this season of expectation and joy. “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley embodies the true hope of Christ in Christmas.
“Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
Sarah Broady is a wife, and mother to three boys including one with autism. She is a writer, advocate, speaker, and podcaster for her podcast, A Special Hope, available on her website, Hope in Autism and any podcast platform. You can find her on Facebook at @HopeinAutism, @ASpecialHopePodcast, on Twitter @3boys4me and @aspecialhopepod, and Instagram @aspecialhopepodcast.
