A sixth exploration of some of the popular songs of the season.
First, perhaps a brief exploration of a few vocabulary terms relevant for these carols that we’ve been examining.
“Noel” comes from the French word for Christmas, and “Christmas” means the feast/religious observance/mass of Christ, and “Christ” means the anointed one, the Greek version of the Hebrew term represented by the word “Messiah”–the Promised Savior/Deliverer who had been foretold by the prophets and expected by the people.
Verse 1: At the very first Christmas, the angel addressed lowly, sleeping shepherds in a field! They were simply tending their duties of caring for the sheep amidst the chilly night air–hardly prepared for such an earth-shattering proclamation!
Chorus: The Feast of the Christ has come! Time to celebrate! The Ruler of God’s people has arrived!
Verse 2: The heavens became aglow with starlight, an astronomical phenomenon to mark this special occasion! It was not a proclamation for the shepherds only, but for the whole earth!
Chorus: The Feast of the Christ has come! Time to celebrate! The Ruler of God’s people has arrived!
Verse 3: Not only were the local shepherds attracted to this celebration, but important people from far off lands came to seek for the King who had come! Without knowing who or where He was, they dedicated themselves to the search so that they might join in the celebration!
Chorus: The Feast of the Christ has come! Time to celebrate! The Ruler of God’s people has arrived!
Verse 4: The heavenly markers and prophecies of old did not lead them astray. They came to seek the newborn King and they found Him indeed!
Chorus: The Feast of the Christ has come! Time to celebrate! The Ruler of God’s people has arrived!
Verse 5: Upon finding Him, these important people from far off lands offered Him their extravagant worship! In humility, and personally–not through an ambassador or emissary–they offered to Him gold, incense, and spices that would foretell a great deal about the King that He was to be!
Chorus: The Feast of the Christ has come! Time to celebrate! The Ruler of God’s people has arrived!
Verse 6: So, let us all together–we who have also heard the proclamation of His coming–join together in worship! The One who has come is the creator of all things, and also the Savior of all people!
Chorus: The Feast of the Christ has come! Time to celebrate! The Ruler of God’s people has arrived!
The declaration of the Savior’s birth is a message that is for all people, from the lowly to the magnified, from the local to the foreigner, for those present at the very first Christmas, to those of us living today.
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For other posts in this series on Christmas carol reflections see:
