| Tuesday’s Free Press had an interesting article about, as they put it, “that chubby white-bearded, red-suited guy who delivers Christmas presents via a reindeer-powered sleigh.” It was mostly about how his American name, Santa Claus, came about. I think you will like their conclusion: “In the end, whether it’s St. Nick, Santa or Kris Kringle who rides his sleigh into the holidays, the history of how he got his name is one that illustrates a wonderful melding of languages and cultures – a reminder of how differences can merge into a rich and varied part of a culture, celebrated by many.” (Valerie M. Fridland, University of Nevada, Reno, THE CONVERSATION) This got me thinking of all the variations of the original Christmas story that we find in cultures and in the songs we sing. Take, for instance, The First Noel. The word “noel” long ago grew to refer specifically to the birth of Christ, so my assumption is that the line “the first Noel the angel did say” means the first announcement of Christ’s birth. I’m fine with that. I’m even fine with the reference to a “cold winter’s night that was so deep,” even though we have no clue what the weather was like. It’s verse two that always gets me. It has the shepherds looking up and seeing a star in the east! I remember Luke referencing an angel of the Lord (presumably Garbriel) and a great company of heavenly host, but no star (it likely was there, but I’m not sure it had any significance for the shepherds). Then, not surprisingly, the song goes on to state “those Wise Men three.” I guess it’s only appropriate that most of our manger scenes have the shepherds and the magi all worshiping Jesus together in the stable. Just so we all have one more opportunity to hear the authentic Noel (before the Grinch steals our joy) here it is from St. Luke: “While (Mary and Joseph) were there (Bethlehem), the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people; Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!’ When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about the child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2.6-18) St. Mathew tells it more from Joseph’s perspective. “The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Jospeh, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Jospeh, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him, Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel’, which is translated ‘God with us.’ When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.” (Matthew 1.18-25) While Luke’s version is generally the more popular, I prefer Matthew’s telling of the Noel for one particular reason – the quote from Isaiah. Some 700 years prior Isaiah had said these words to King Ahaz, “The Lord himself will give you a sign: See, a virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7.14) Matthew then, as he tells the story of this wondrous and clear sign of God’s eternal love for us and all of his creation, explains that the name Immanuel means “God with us.” Combine that with the name given that baby (Jesus, which means “The Lord Saves”) and we have the true essence of the First Noel. John tells it this way, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1.14) How good it is to know that the one true God (in the person of his Son, Jesus) dwells among us in grace for the purpose of keeping us secure! And just so we don’t start doubting if we who came along so much later might be missing out on this gift, Matthew records the last words spoken on earth by Jesus before his ascension as, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.20) You may know him as Jesus or the Christ … Immanuel or Lord … Son of God or Son of Man. All of these names/titles present different faces of the same baby. They all refer to the one who was born of Mary in that First Noel … just as Kris, Nick, and Santa all refer to “that chubby white-bearded, red-suited guy who delivers Christmas presents via a reindeer-powered sleigh.” Thus there is probably no better way for me to conclude today – before I wish you a blessed new year next week – than with the final verse of that oft quoted song: “Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord; That hath made heaven and earth of naught, and with his blood our life hath bought. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the king of Israel.” Or, as the angelic host themselves said it, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!” (Luke 2.14) Have a joy-filled Christmas and blessed new year, my friends – for God is with us, graciously to save us, and keep us secure in his grace – always. |
Kris, Nick and Santa