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The angels showed up on Christmas night with the answers to two of history’s biggest questions. This classic carol answers both questions definitely, praising the new-born King who reconciles us with God.
The episodes are the weekly sermons from 922 Ministries (St. Peter and The CORE) of Appleton, Wisconsin.
Christmas Playlist
Wk 2 - St Peter
Pastor Tim Glende
Welcome back to week 2, or if you're here for the first time if you’re a guest, or visitor, you missed week one. So glad you're here. As we unpack for different songs leading up to our Christmas, Eve celebration for classic songs to spend time focusing on the message that they deliver in the throughs, from God's word that they help us celebrate, during this Christmas season. How many of you when you were growing up or maybe even do now? As you are older, as an adult have ever gone Christmas caroling like any Christmas carolers here, you have gone out with a choir or with other people and and you going to someone's door that, you know, maybe a nursing home of someone you love and and saying familiar songs to be a blessing to them when I was growing up as a kid, mom and dad who are in a choir we go, Christmas caroling. Every year, I visit members of the church or maybe shut-ins or in nursing homes to just bless them. In their Christmas season, that music can do that. And The Closer song for each and every person, every place that we visited was We Wish You a Merry Christmas because the final greeting, the final words, almost everyone knows it. It's almost every Christmas playlist. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Good tidings to you to you and your kin. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we stop there. You lie.
I never really knew it but as I unpacked it that song actually has a lot of verses to it. You know we stopped at verse 2 and then go on to verse 3 and 4 because those aren't so memorable and meaningful. Like there's a lot of things on your Christmas playlist that have memorable lines and a memorable refrain and a lot of songs that have a good verse but not every verse is good. You know what, verse 3 of that familiar song is so bring us some figgy pudding. In verse 4, we won't go until we get some .
Like if those are your friends singing that song At Your Door, they lack taste. And they have a whole lot of rudeness like, you might want new friends. Like I have no idea what figgy pudding is, but it doesn't sound good. And I'll give you something, but it won't be that.
Like not every Christmas song on your playlist has from beginning to end words that are meaningful and memorable, and really valuable to hold on, to Some of the most famous Christmas songs of all time, you know, Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You is loaded with a whole lot of fluff, but one memorable line. But not today's song.
Like even some Christmas songs that we sing even ones that are in the hymnal. Not every verse from beginning to end has depth and meaning and insight worth holding on to. I Pastor week passed away last week. Pastor Bill, and Pastor Mike got song, One away in the manger, probably the first song outside of Jesus, loves me that most Christians memorized and learned and it was a little bit jealous until I looked at it and looked at today's song and said that song has a whole lot of fluff. Like, the cattle are lowing, no, crying the baby makes like come on, Mom and Dad, the baby doesn't cry after they're born, doctors are worried and running around, like babies cry. And I don't know what lowing cattle do or don't do but it sounds a little fluffy to me. But it's a beautiful song from beginning to end. That focuses on the moment. Like it takes you to see the scene of what is central to Christmas the birth of Jesus.
But he don't necessarily think it covers the monumental.
Like the Monumental of all that is happening, all that is going on all that. That means for you and me from beginning to end. This was today's song does like when you add it to your playlist and that meaningful Cradle, song that away in the manger is that that touches your heart? And sometimes fluffy is good because it's easy to hold onto because they're simple truths today. We can add some depth from some 200 proof. Truth regarding Christmas. As we add Our Song to the playlist, in order for us to understand it to see the three verses beginning to end and all the depth that it brings. I first want to take you to the Scene. The scene where this song was first song and what inspires it Luke Chapter 2 takes us to seem to of that first Christmas. There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. See here's the thing about Luke Chapter 2, while we read through one versus one through seven, we know the story, we understand the significance, but that moment and how Monumental it was would have been lost on everyone else if not for what takes place next. Like those Shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night, weren't leaving their flocks behind to go to Bethlehem to shake hands and give Mary and Joseph hugs and kisses Like those Shepherds weren't running back to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus because it wasn't there baby. They probably could have cared less. I mean babies are born all the time. I mean it's Monumental is it is for A wife and her husband to have a baby? It's not so meaningful to just about everybody else. Maybe a few close friends and your family. But God knew this was different and God didn't want to leave the world in the dark and so God stepped in and made sure. Others knew about the Monumental occurrences of the moment of what had just transpired in Bethlehem. Look at the next few verses which are probably familiar to most of you but the angel said to them as they were I'd do not be afraid, I bring you good news. Was that a pause there for a second, there are a whole lot of good things about Christmas like food and family Christmas cards and and the messages that we send the lights, the decorations, you know, there are a lot of good things about Christmas, there are a lot of good things that happen and will happen this Christmas, that will be memorable to you, but I need you to hear this, it will not be. So Monumental is what transpired that first Christmas night. The good things of our Christmas has pale in comparison to the good news. Of that Christmas when I called great news. Here's the news today. Just a few moments ago, today shepherds in the field, you may not have known it today in the town of David. A savior has been born to you, he's the Messiah, the Lord, A baby was born but not any ordinary, baby. A baby has been born, who is different than the ones. Maybe you've been blessed with. There's a baby that's been born in Bethlehem to day. And he is a savior, your savior. These savior, the Messiah, the promised one, the Lord God himself, Like the words, the angel used were intentional to highlight. Very important truth. Who is Jesus?
Sunday, 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 Like the Angels message to the shepherd's was, was yes, a birth announcement, but even more importantly, words and insights for you and me to answer life's two, most difficult questions, the important questions, the needed answers to the biggest questions in life, who is Jesus? And what does Jesus do? Why does he matter for you? And for me, what's the significance that he brings in celebrating his birth? Like people don't stop and celebrate your birth worldwide yearly for 2000 years. Just saying pastor Tim is important. Is your 50th. Birthday was only two people in. Your wife, went along with you on the trip. You're not that big a deal.
But this birth is because it answers those two questions. That's what the angel said, it's all that. They said that the song was glory to God in the highest. You know the word Glory means like when someone receives Glory and Honor it's something that they're worthy of because of their achievements. Praise honor glory. When we say yours, be the glory forever and ever. Amen! We're praying that that God himself receives glory for his achievements. So Charles Wesley took that song in that one phrase of all those angels and wrote an entire song to help answer those two questions who is Jesus and what does Jesus do so that you and I might know the answer to why is he worthy of Glory?
Steve minutes.
And that's why I would pitch to you that. The one song on the Angels playlist leads to this, what I want you to find in this song, I want you to add it to your playlist, this year. Maybe take a step and listen to it multiple times in the week ahead. The Angels playlist is simply this, it is good news for you.
For all just like it was for the shepherd's 2,000 years ago because it answers the question. Who is Jesus? And we all need to remember that and listen to that.
And what does Jesus do? And you need to remember that and I need to remember that and so does everyone. So let's look at the song and see the good news, the answers to those questions of why, the Angels Sing glory to God in the highest on that first Christmas and why we will one day join angels and singing it and saying it around the Throne of Heaven. Let's go to verse 1. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing glory to the newborn king. Peace on Earth and mercy, mild God and sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise. Join. The Triumph of the Skies with Angelic host. Proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem. Like the words of the end and the words of the beginning sandwich for me, what is the most important part of verse one? That I think the Angels want you? And I to Hark and listen to the word heart, literally means listen. So Charles Wesley who wrote 6,000 plus songs wanted you and I to remember right there in the middle, why Hark and listen to what the Angels saying, why is it possible to be joyful to join the Triumph to Proclaim this? Why would one do that? Because of who Jesus is and what Jesus Does. Peace on Earth and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled.
In order for something to be reconciled at first, has to be broken. And almost always reconciliation involves relationships like a broken relationship. Needs reconciliation.
Chinese Wesley, knew that. The Angels knew that.
Like these like that when the angels are singing in the heavens filled with joy and excitement. We're not the only times that they were used and sent to the scene. And sometimes where they when they were sent to the scene. It was anything but but joyful but it was All broken.
Like, you know, the first time we see the Angels appear on the pages of scripture. It's in Genesis chapter 3, when God sent them to guard the garden. So that the ones blocking out of it with their heads bowed down and shame could never re-enter God's presence. Like, the Angels knew the Brokenness that sin brought. The Angels were often times messengers of God sent to God's people to call them out on the carpet for their Brokenness. Repent turn. Whoa.
But that's not the message. The Angels sang that night. Peace on Earth. Savior has been born. Like the Brokenness of Adam, and Eve, and the sin that all of us inherit from them, the Brokenness that you have, that causes you to rebel against God, shake your fist at God at times. Make yourself God in your world, disobey God the Brokenness of your life. And relationship with God, Alone can be reconciled. There Jesus. Because of who he is. God.
But Jesus was No Ordinary Baby. Jesus is the king, the ruler of the universe, Pastor Bill last week talked about his Incarnation, the beautiful little baby that that he was, but remember who he is. That's monumental. That makes him different than any other baby who has ever been born. And what Jesus does is reconciles you with God. He needed to be God because God Alone could be perfect born into this world without sin and live a perfect life. That was demanded by God. He needed to be perfect. But as God, he also needed to pay the price that you and I couldn't pay an indoor. Literally when Isaiah talked about before your sins, have God caused God, to turn his face from you is exactly what God the Father did to his son on Good Friday when He forsook him. Jesus had to be forsaken, he had to be born. He had to live a perfect life, and he had to breathe his last breath, so that you, and I might be reconciled with God, that Sinners could have their sins taken away their guilt, remove their shame removed, and spend eternity in the presence of God.
See the angels. Anatomy of sin blocked off access to God in the garden. But they knew Jesus birth was all about restoring our relationship so that we would have access to the throne of God for eternity. And so the Angels sang Glory. Glory because of that achievement that they knew what happened.
Which is why that flows nicely into verse 2. Verse 2 gets more into the who Jesus is as opposed to. What does Jesus do Christ? By highest heav'n adore? Is why the Angels were singing Christ? The Everlasting Lord late in time Behold Him come offspring of a virgin's. Womb veiled in flesh the godhead see hail the Incarnate deity pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus. Emmanuel. I left you space in your notes or you can Circle this because the words are in there as well. But Charles Wesley wanted to make sure you understood the 200-proof doctor and and throughs about who Jesus is Like the Bible is filled with in the passages, reinforce them, but they are so vital and important their game changing. C.s. Lewis wrote of this way. One of his books, he said Jesus made lots of claims. About who he is.
And so, he's either Lord as he says, He's a lunatic who's out of his mind or he's a bald-faced liar.
Geez me Clay, Mr. Clay, Mr. Clean about his lordship but one of the things the Angels made. Sure of one of these God the Father made sure of a different times during his life. One of the things that the Old Testament and New Testament allow us to do what the Angels were doing. That night singing, a savior has been come glory to God in the highest. This wasn't the shepherd's making this up. This wasn't Jesus making the claim it was God himself sending his Messengers to make sure they would know who Jesus is. Everlasting Lord. He was there at the beginning and will be there at the end. He is a part of the godhead. The Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the Incarnate God himself. He's a manual. Like Charles Wesley, new the vital importance for art, Faith rested. In the fact, of who Jesus is, not just any other baby, not just a great teacher. Not just someone who pulled off a few. Great amazing Miracles by chance know. He is God. God from beginning to end of time. God. And you and I need God. Without Jesus, we have no hope.
Like you can get a lot of great gifts at Christmas.
But they're not going to last all that long. The list might be filled with amazing things. But next year, the list will be filled by more amazing things.
But if Jesus is in a part of your Christmas celebration, if you don't listen to these words, hold on to these words, understand the life-changing news. The good news that this is You're missing out on what can make Christmas great.
Who is Jesus? He's the Lord of Heaven and Earth. He's your God. He's my God. He's your savior. He is my savior. He's the only way we can have access to Eternity.
Which is why verse 3 is perhaps my favorite verse of the whole song. I can sometimes when you sing a familiar Christmas song, You Know verse one and you had to memorize it as a kid and it maybe you dabbled in verse 2 but you get to verse 3 and you start to do the watermelon watermelon. You sing with your lips as a kid in the program but you didn't really know the words because you didn't memorize it. Don't overlook the last verse. That's why I wanted you to hear from beginning to end. This song is so chock-full of great, good news, hail the heaven-born, prince of peace. Hail praise the sun of righteousness, light and Life, to all. He brings ris'n with healing in his wings mild. He lays his glory by born that, man. No, more may die. Born to Raise the sons of earth born. To give them second birth.
We would do well to hark what the Herald Angels Sing To listen to those words. It just look at all the things about what Jesus does that you find in verse 3. That Jesus brings peace. Jesus. Is the sun of righteousness. He makes us right with God, he takes away our sin and guilt and God sees us as holy and pure, he brings light and life. He shows the way to heaven. He makes the path possible. He's given you new life, because he rose to life risen with healing in his wings. He's able to heal you spiritually to heal your soul from all of its sins mild. He lays his glory by he set aside, the glory of Heaven, he was born So that you and I might enjoy Glory one day. Born that man. No more may die. Born to Raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth.
Just look at those last three verses. Do you understand how important it is here to hear those three verses to listen to those truths about what make Christmas monumental? Why it's about more than what we're going to celebrate on the 24th. Because there will come a day when either you or someone you love faces death.
Those days are not Christmas Day celebration Joyce.
I can when you face death, you need to remember what Jesus came to do for you.
He came to live so that he could die. So that you and I would never die. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life, whoever lives and Believes In Me will never die. Like if you ever sit in here and in the front role of a funeral service of a loved one of yours, I pray that you are comforted in the truth that the one who came came so that the person you love that. You know, well they their life here on Earth ended. They did not die. They only cross over from life to life, and that is not possible. Without Jesus Christ. He was born so that you would never die. He died so that you would live forever. He died. So that one day you would rise Victorious. And if a glorious body like his, the Angels, saying glory to God in the highest because they knew it meant for you and for me a glorious eternity with God. Which is only possible, because of God.
Hark. Charles Wesley wrote listen to what the Angels Sing but the Angels message was it is good news. Because the one born this Christmas celebration is all about who Jesus Is, God himself in human flesh to reconcile you with God, to make a way for you to be with God. So, sing glory to the newborn king.
Charles Wesley, when you wrote this song, must have dug into the other scripture passages about Jesus and who he is because the Angels didn't go into the great deal of death. But the song does. It may be one of the verses that he remembered was this about Jesus. In the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, who is Jesus, he is God, himself Park. Listen up this Christmas season, listen to the words of the Angels, the good news to celebrate, who he is. God. And listen, like John says, so you can celebrate what he does. To all, who received him, those who believed in him, he gave the right to become the children of God children, born out of natural descent, nor of a human decision or a husband's will born of God, the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, we've seen his glory, the glory of the one, and only son who came from the father Full of Grace and Truth. Listen hark, what the angel said in saying, who is Jesus? He is God. What does Jesus do? He's made you his child.
Celebrate that this Christmas. In addition, to all the other good things, Because as you celebrate the good news, the Angels playlist you'll be reminded But an amazing person named Jesus who is Your savior and my savior. Not every Christmas song from beginning to end is good. The song. Having on your playlist. Remind you each and every day of the good news that Jesus Christ, your savior and my savior has reconciled you with your heavenly father so you can spend eternity there. We do well over the days ahead to hark. To listen. In the midst of all the distractions and all the noise of even good things.
The Angels say, Celebrate the good news and sing glory to the newborn king.