One of our most beautiful Christmas carols is, indeed, one of our most ancient, for it came directly from the angels!

“And suddenly there was with the angel 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 2:13,14.

Shortly after Jesus was born, this angel appears to announce the birth of the Savior, and is soon joined by a “host”, or many other angels, who join in the rejoicing of the coming of Jesus Christ.

One account tells us that as early as A.D. 129, the “Angel’s Hymn” was being sung. (You may remember from another carol this week that one writer insists the angels didn’t SING according to the Word. You can read about that here!) Its most common English version was translated in 1862 by James Chadwick and contains the famous line taken directly from the angels, “Glory to God in the highest…” and sung in Latin, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo”.

In medieval times, French shepherds had a tradition of shouting to each other on Christmas Eve across the hilltops, “Gloria, in excelsis Deo!” as they watched over their flocks in the southern hills of France!

When Jesus came into the world it was the most humble of births, He wanted it that way. Born to a virgin, a miracle to be sure, He could have come in royalty but instead was born in a stable, some would say it wasn’t fit for a newborn’s entrance into the world.

Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply,

Echoing their joyous strains.

 

Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo.

 

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be,

Which inspire your heav’nly song?

The shepherds came in a hurry to see what all the excitement was about. Something very important had taken place, even though so very few knew about it. A humble birth, humble beginnings, but oh, so glorious!

And He brings it even today…to our messes, to our chaos. He comes in the middle of our broken lives and humbly invites Himself in. He never forces His way, but with arms outstretched He offers the hurt, the lost, and all of the weary wounded a place to find rest and salvation. He gives life, hope and peace in a troubled world.

Exactly why He came to Earth for so many years ago.

Come to Bethlehem and see,

Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

He still waits…won’t you come?

 

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