The Music of Advent
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
As an adult with intellectual disabilities, James Bruce’s language skills were limited, but, oh how he loved music, especially at Christmas. During our nightly Advent devotional a few years ago, Bruce asked James Bruce what song he wanted to sing. James Bruce quickly said, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Bruce and I laughed because that's not a very "spiritual" song, but we sang it heartily. Then we asked James Bruce for another selection. He quickly responded, "For Unto Us a Child is Born." We sang that one too; actually, we sang it twice!
In the soft candlelight, James Bruce’s little face glowed with joy as he happily sang the words that were written by the prophet Isaiah over 2700 years ago:
For unto us a child is born
Unto us, a son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Suddenly it hit me. Maybe it wasn't such a strange combination of songs after all. It IS the most wonderful time of the year because a son HAS been given to us. And not just a son, but a Savior. We're not just celebrating Christmas, we're celebrating Christ!
Author Tim Keller writing in his wonderful book Hidden Christmas says, “Christmas is the only Christian holy day that is also a major secular holiday… Once a year at countless gatherings, concerts, parties, and other events, even when most participants are nonreligious, the essentials of the faith can sometimes become visible.”
Keller cites Charles Wesley’s great hymn Hark the Herald Angels Sing to prove his point. Using the song’s lyrics, Keller asks and answers the following questions:
Who is Jesus? He is the “everlasting Lord’ who from “highest heaven” comes down to be the “offspring of the virgin’s womb.”
What did he come to do? His mission is to see “God and sinner reconciled.”
How did he accomplish it? He “lays his glory by that we “no more may die.”
How can this life be ours? Through an inward, spiritual regeneration so radical that it can be called the “second birth.”
“With brilliant economy of scale, the carol gives us a summary of the entire Christian teaching,” Keller writes.
Music has been an integral part of Christmas since the angels first announced Jesus’ birth by saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men" Luke 2:14 (NIV).
If you are still looking for a good resource to help in your Advent preparation, I highly recommend Jared Wilson’s Gifts of Grace: 25 Advent Devotions. Wilson uses lyrics from fifteen beloved Christmas carols as chapter titles for each Advent daily devotion. As I read through Gifts of Grace, I found myself frequently consulting the “notes on chapter titles” index to match chapter titles with hymns such as O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Joy to the World. Most of us are probably familiar with the first verse or chorus of the fifteen Christmas carols represented in Gifts of Grace, but few of us know all of the verses and rich theology expressed throughout the entirety of each beloved hymn. Linking theologically rich lyrics to a particular aspect of God’s grace is helping me think deeply as I sing familiar Christmas songs.
This Christmas season may we truly rejoice as we sing the music of Advent. “Joy to the world; the Lord is come!”