At the end of the century, TV Guide listed this Crosby-Bowie duet as one of the 25 most memorable musical moments of 20th century television.

Come, they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

pa-rum-pum-pum-pum, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Peace on Earth, can it be

Years from now, perhaps we’ll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be

Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He’ll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be

Can it be

Bing: It’s a pretty theme, isn’t it?

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Lorenzo Lotto
The Nativity, 1523

“Jesus’ birth sparks joy, surprise and wonder. All these emotions flow from the experience of the shepherds, who observe with amazement as heaven confesses the child’s identity (Luke 2:10-11). The major offices of Jesus are confessed in one sentence: he is Savior, Lord and Christ–that is, deliverer, master and anointed king. As unbelievable as it may seem, the one with authority over salvation spends his first nights not in a palace but in the open air among simple people like the shepherds. Born in the ancient equivalent of a tent village, Jesus arrives to fulfill God’s promise. All the imagery shows God’s concern for people regardless of their social status or vocation. He cares for all and identifies with all.

Joy comes with an angelic proclamation of good news (euangelizomai). The message is for all the people. Though in the original context such a messianic announcement would have been understood as being for the people of Israel, the development of Jesus’ ministry shows that Jesus’ work reaches beyond such national boundaries. The two volumes of Luke-Acts tell the story of how Jesus, the Savior, Lord and Christ, brought salvation to all people regardless of nationality. They need only turn to him (Acts 10:34-43).

As with other incidents in the infancy material, the angel describes a sign: the shepherds will know this announcement is true when they see the child in a manger. The angelic announcement does not come in mystical isolation; it connects to concrete events.”

- Darrell Bock IVP New Testament Commentary, Luke 2:8-21

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Writing credit goes to Rachel Tulloch at RZIM Canada, with super muchas gracias to the inimitable Anna Tragesser.

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“I have this running quandary about Christmas. I get upset about it, because I feel that we American Christians make too much of it, and too little. Too little of it, because we pile all sorts of other things onto it, including some that have only the feeblest connection with the Event it is supposed to commemorate. If God did become a man, in any real sense, it is the most important thing that ever happened…we make so much of the actual birth, and forget the things that make it more than just the birth of a baby—more, even, than the birth of the greatest man who ever lived. We forget the promise to Eve of a descendant who will solve the problem of Evil; the promise to Abraham of one by whom all mankind will be blessed; the promise to Moses of a greater prophet than he, to arise from his people; and the promise to David of a Son who would be his Master. We forget about the eternal Purpose behind it all: it’s like telling a story and leaving out the point. Yes, it is true that God gave us His Son, and so maybe we ought also to give gifts—but what, and to whom? It is also true that God gave us Himself, and the only sensible response to that is to give ourselves to Him. There is nothing else that He wants from us, or, if there is something, He can take it. Only I, my ego, my heart, is truly mine to give or to withhold—and is therefore the appropriate gift to Him.”

… Robert MacColl Adams (1913-1985), letter, 1982

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Leonardo da Vinci 1452 – 1519
The Annunciation

tempera on panel (98 × 217 cm) — ca. 1474

“If the [Incarnation] happened, it was the central event in the history of the Earth—the very thing that the whole story has been about. Since it happened only once, it is by Hume’s standards infinitely improbable. But then, the whole history of the Earth has also happened only once: is it therefore incredible? Hence the difficulty, which weighs upon Christian and atheist alike, of estimating the probability of the Incarnation. It is like asking whether the existence of nature herself is intrinsically probable. That is why it is easier to argue, on historical grounds, that the Incarnation actually occurred than to show, on philosophical grounds, the probability of its occurrence.”
… C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), Miracles, New York: Macmillan, 1947, p. 174

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‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ (Matthew 25:6 – NLT)

O Bride of Christ, rejoice!

O Bride of Christ, rejoice!
Exultant raise thy voice
To hail the day of glory,
Foretold in sacred story.

Refrain

Hosanna, praise and glory,
Our King, we bow before Thee.

Let shouts of gladness rise
Triumphant to the skies.
Here comes the King most glorious
To reign o’er all victorious

Refrain

He wears no kingly crown
Yet as a king He’s known;
Though not arrayed in splendor,
He still makes death surrender.

Refrain

The weak and timid find
How meek He is and kind;
To them He gives a treasure
Of bliss beyond all measure.

Refrain

Thy heart now open wide,
Bid Christ with thee abide;
He graciously will hear thee,
And be forever near thee.

Refrain

Then go thy Lord to meet;
Strew palm leaves at His feet;
Thy garments spread before Him
And honor and adore Him.

Refrain

E’en babes with one accord
With thee shall praise the Lord,
And every gentile nation
Respond with exultation.

- 15th Cen­tu­ry Dan­ish hymn

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A great video from the folks at Mars Hill Church about the writer of the hymn Joy to the World.

The King of glory sends his Son,
To make his entrance on this earth;
Behold the midnight bright as noon,
And heav’nly hosts declare his birth!

About the young Redeemer’s head,
What wonders, and what glories meet!
An unknown star arose, and led
The eastern sages to his feet.

Simeon and Anna both conspire
The infant Saviour to proclaim;
Inward they felt the sacred fire,
And bless’d the babe, and own’d his name.

Let pagan hordes blaspheme aloud,
And treat the holy child with scorn;
Our souls adore th’ eternal God
Who condescended to be born.
… Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Hymns and Spiritual Songs [1707], in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, ed. Samuel Melanchthon Worcester, Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1834, Book II, hymn 136, p. 454

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More great stuff from the Centre for Public Christianity.

Required watching for Nathan Hyde’s World History class.

Hanukka from CPX on Vimeo.

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