Luke 2:4-7
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of
David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married
to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time
came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no
guest room available for them.
God had a plan for a song and His Son.
O Holy Night, one of the most popular and often sung
songs at Christmas, was originally written by a French village merchant, Placide
Cappeau, who was also a poet and an atheist with the music written by, Adolphe
Adams, a Jewish man. Two unlikely people to pen a beautiful hymn about the birth
of Jesus. The local priest wanted a new song for the Christmas season, and he had
asked the local poet to write one. Eventually, the song was rejected by the
church in France, due to its origins.
God wasn’t finished with O Holy Night. Abolitionist John
Sullivan Dwight recognized the truth of the lyrics and brought the song to America, where people embraced the
beautiful message.
When God has a plan, no one can stop Him. The most wonderful
and amazing plan involved the humans He created. Even though Adam and Eve failed
in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan to return people to Him. He offered His
own son to the world, as a baby, who would grow to be a man, who would offer
his life as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
Christmas is the celebration of the Holy Night Mary
delivered Jesus into our broken world. Amid the stockings and the tree, the
gifts, the food, and the tinsel, stop and think about the true reason for
celebration, the freedom Jesus offers and the love and grace God gives.
Merriest Christmas to you all!
Josh Groban sings my favorite rendition of O Holy Night. I
hope you enjoy it.
