CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

November 28, 2004

KEEP PRAYING FOR:

Our military, nation and leaders                                 Our college students

Our congregation                                                       David and Leon in the Navy

Various friends, relatives and co-workers

EVENTS:

Dec. 25 - Christmas

Jan. 1    - New Years

THE FIRST NOEL

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” (Luke 2:5).

As you all know, I like Christmas music, especially the old favorites.  I’ve said before, that it has been years since a new popular Christmas carol has been produced.  Among the old favorites is The First Noel.  When one looks at this song, one could think that it is a mixture of two different Biblical stories and, confusing the story itself, should not be sung.  That would be true if we only sang the abbreviated version of the song found in most song books.  Last year I came across the full song with more verses and it put the song in context.  So let’s take a look at it.

Noel is from the Latin and means day and is connected with the birth of Christ, the first day.

The first Noel the angel did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay:

In fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

A couple of things here.  The angel did speak to shepherds in the field watching their sheep.  What time of year has been debated.  We really do not know when Jesus was born.

They looked up and saw a star, shining in the east, beyond them far:

and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.

This verse mixes the two stories, one from Luke and the other from Matthew.  Nothing is said about the shepherds seeing the star that the wise men saw.  Was the author thinking that the shepherds might have seen the star but did not know what it meant?  Or was he mixing stories as a bridge?  That we just do not know.  Tradition often has the wise men arriving at the manger, though in Matthew Mary and Joseph are in a house.  This could be a reason for such a view.

The next three verses deal with the wise men.  And by the light of that same star, three wise men came from the country far; to seek for a King was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went.  Again, the three comes from the gifts presented to the family.  We do not know how many wise men there were.  Be that as it may, these wise men came seeking a King by following a star.  So much mystery surrounds this Biblical story.  Who were the wise men?  Astrologers?  Astronomers?  How did they know about the King of the Jews?  Were they influenced by Jewish teachings in a foreign land?  And what land was that?  How many were there?  And what about that star?  Was it an alignment of planets?  Or was it a special star created by God?  It moved, stopped, and turned according to Matthew’s account.  When one thinks about it, Abraham left his homeland to a country he knew nothing about, trusting God.  And people who were not a part of the Jewish family were known as God’s servants.  Moses father-in-law was a priest of God in Midian.  Melchizedek was another.  So we should not be surprised about the wise men coming.  They certainly stirred up Jerusalem when they came seeking the King of the Jews.

This star drew nigh to the north-west; o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,

and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three, fell reverently upon their knee,

and offered there in his presence their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

It appears from the song that this all happened on one night, but by mentioning the place, it could be a house in view rather than the manger, in keeping with the text.  They do offer gifts to Jesus and family.

Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

that hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood mankind has bought.

Like many songs of scripture, history is repeated in the song.  It reminds us of God’s activity in human affairs.  And like many Christmas songs, while dwelling on the birth of Christ, the real purpose is seen in the last verse.  The blood of Jesus has paid the price for our sins.  Singing the song then reminds us of what God has done to bring salvation to us.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

born is the King of Israel.

The King is born!  Not the way we would have thought, nor did the Jews.  A manger, shepherds, and foreigners surround His birth.  The Jewish religious leaders would have no of that, but then God has His own way of doing things.  And sometimes we forget that Jesus is our King.  He reigns over us and we humbly serve.  Rather than seeking equality, or position, authority or power, we should be forgetting ourselves in service to Him.  Wise men came seeking the King, and wise men still seek Him today.  But during His day, His own people refused to see Him as King.  They even complained when Pilate posted a sign on the cross, “The King of the Jews.”  Even today, many have difficulty in recognizing Jesus as King.  But one day all will bow their knee to the ground in the presence of the King (see Philippians 2:9-11).

So let’s sing this song as it tells the story of His birth, but concludes with the reason for that birth, our redemption.  The reminder of the “first” day will keep us focused on the “last.”

                                                                                                           George B. Mearns