Lights, Singing, Worship at Christmas!
Deeper Dive
Our Christmas tree looks different this year. I’m writing this on December 9th. The tree is up, but no decorations hang from its branches. (Let me back this story up, though.)
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The Friday after Thanksgiving Day, our family in Oklahoma came together to host a larger gathering of extended family. It was a lovely day, but also a lot of work (as all the planners out there know).
Because I knew the week would be especially busy, and with Thanksgiving falling so late this year, I wanted to get my tree up early. I got the snow-flocked, pre-lit tree put up in our family room, saving the Christmas decorations for after Thanksgiving, as is our custom.
Each evening, throughout the week of Thanksgiving, we enjoyed the glow of the white lights on the tree spreading early Christmas cheer. I guess you could say the undecorated tree grew on me because here we are on December 9th and, except for the flocked snow and white lights, the tree is still undecorated.
The thing is, I love it so much we may have started a new holiday tradition. That is, leaving the snow-flocked, pre-lit pencil tree just as it came out of the box—looking minimalistic with the lights glowing and no decorations!
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This time of year, I sometimes struggle with writing a Christmas piece. What can I share that hasn’t already been said? Even most non-Christians know of the Christmas story and Jesus’ birth. However, there’s something about the lights of Christmas that’s captured my heart, so I’m running with it (along with a few other thoughts).
And the glory of the Lord shone around them!
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2.8-12
Notice how the angel shows up, surrounded by the light of God’s glory. Light is important in the Bible. It’s light that divides the darkness, and light that brings salvation to all. The shepherds represent the common people hearing, receiving, and telling of God’s light-come-to-earth in the person of Jesus.
Let there be light.
In Genesis 1.3, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.’” God’s story has barely begun, and light is introduced. One commentary explains it like this: “Light changes everything, does it not? It cuts through all the unknown and unseen… It unveils and illuminates. What darkness aims to hide, the light will always expose.”1
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The light shone on Abraham when God said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them [and] so shall your offspring be.” (Gen. 15.5)
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Moses met the light when “God called to him from within the bush” on fire with God’s presence. (Exo. 3.2-4)
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The prophet Isaiah foretold that those who walked in darkness would one day see a “great light” bringing salvation to all people. (Isaiah 9.2)
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The apostle Paul looked back to Genesis 1.3 and proclaimed, “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory...” (2 Cor. 4.6)
Let there be light.
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. […] he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. Luke 2.4-7; 21
Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
A few weeks ago, I started listening to my favorite Christmas music. What is it about the singing and carols of Christmas that make us nostalgic, excited, or sometimes even emotional?
When I was a girl, my dad had this album he’d spin on the record player during the holidays. Dad loved to wake us up to a loud and lively rendition of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and other fun tunes (link included for those who’ve never heard the song, just to prove it really did exist).
Since my dad was a pastor and in full-time ministry, most of my Christmas singing memories center around church programs, caroling with friends, and Christmas Eve candlelight services.
At the first notes of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, you’ll find me in tears. Singing What Child Is This has a way of making us feel like we were present at the birth of Jesus. And Joy to the World reminds us of the reason for the season—that the light has come!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing!
Joining together in singing the ancient carols softens hearts to the reality of that first Christmas and serves as a reminder that Christmas lives inside of us every day.
And Joy to the World is the perfect transition to turn our thoughts to worship at Christmas. The song was originally intended as a New Testament expression of praise.2 This is how it’s usually arranged and sung—as an opener to worship, or a grand climaxing praise to the holiday presentation.
Worship the Light of All Mankind!
John begins his Gospel with the following words, which feel like a worship event. Keep this in mind as you read this passage slowly…
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1.1-4)
The NIV Application Commentary says, “the prologue [of John’s gospel] may have been an ancient Christian hymn…”3 Imagine John 1.1-4 as a hymn of the early church. What a worship song this would have been—worshiping and proclaiming that Jesus, the baby born of a virgin, was with God at the beginning of creation.
Worship the Light.
In Luke chapter two, following the angel’s announcement to the shepherds concerning Jesus’ birth, Luke writes of something that also demonstrates a momentous worship event.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2.13-14
This disruption to their routine so impacted the lowly shepherds that they took off towards Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. After they had visited the babe, they spread the word… (Luke 2.16-17)
In telling the Christmas story, we rejoice that the message of Messiah’s arrival began to spread immediately, but we sometimes fail to notice what happened next. According to Luke, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen… (Luke 2.16-17)
They returned home worshiping! This became their testimony.
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During the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2.1-2
Bible scholars say that some time passed before the wise men from the East arrived. It took them a while, but they were on a mission to see Jesus and confirm what they had been told—that this child was the one born king of the Jews.
They continued their long journey, following the star to where a young Jesus (about 2-years old now) was living with his earthly parents. When the wise men finally saw the child with his mother Mary, they bowed down and worshiped him. (Matt. 2.11)
They laid out their treasures before the boy Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In this historic act of worship, these very wise men gave him the best that they had.
Worship the Light.
This year, my Thanksgiving was rather frantic with planning and prepping. Though we had the most wonderful family time, it left me completely unprepared for the Christmas rush.
I don’t know what this December looks like for you, friend, but in the busyness of the season, remember to slow down and take time. Maybe we all need this reminder—I know I do.
Let’s take time to enjoy the lights, join in the singing of Christmas music, and worship the King of kings in all his glory.
Light changes everything…4 It causes rejoicing and singing to break out, and worship to ensue.
Hallelujah! Jesus has come, bringing light and life to all people!
The Bible Themes Handbook by The Daily Grace Co. (see page 174)
Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck. © 1990 Kregel Publications. (see page 368, Joy to the World)
The NIV Application Commentary On the Bible. © 2024 Zondervan. (see page 931)
The Bible Themes Handbook. (see page 174)
What a beautiful sharing of what matters most. I needed it as this Season is a most unusual one for me…full of out-of-the-ordinary challenges, frustrations, life changing events. Yet one thing remains the same in all of that…my Light!