I love nearly all Christmas songs.  I enjoy listening to the ones about reindeers, snowmen, and sleigh bells whether I’m doing the last minute shopping, decorating the trees at home, or trying to keep my car on the arctic roads. However, at times these songs are too sterilized for me. They are too cheerful. Or maybe I should say, they are cheerful for no good reason.  The one thing I like much more about those Christmas songs sculpted by the church is that many recognize the darker side of Christmas. They recall the darkness embedded within that very first Christmas. You may be wondering, “Darkness, in Christmas?” Â
Do you recall the words in the 19th century French carol, O Holy Night? “Long lay the world in sin and error pining,/Till he appear’d, and the soul felt its worth.” Or think of those penned in God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, “To save us all from Satan’s power/When we were gone astray.” Do you see the element of darkness to which these songs are redirecting us? They speak of the hopeless condition of the world, if not for Christ’s infleshment (incarnation) into the cold, dark, bitter world, as spoken of in John 1:14.Â
If you’ve read the book, or seen its adaptation to the big screen, you’ll remember C. S. Lewis’ initial depiction of the fantastical world of Narnia in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The four children discover that winter in Narnia is not so harmless as a ‘winter wonderland’ which lasts only for a season in our world. Lucy, the youngest, is stunned to discover that because the evil Queen presently rules Narnia, it is “always winter but never Christmas.” Suddenly, the “darkness” of that world comes into focus for both the children and the reader. It’s snow piled upon snow and one numbing ice storm after another.  Narnia has been clocked in winter ever since the dark powers have taken over its once lush green world. And though this other world of ice and snow begins to melt as power shifts to the true king of Narnia, Aslan, we mustn’t forget the kind of world from which the Narnians were saved. It is only because the cold and darkness of Narnia was so discomforting to it’s inhabitants that the realization of the warmth of spring was seen as such good news.Â
In the same way, the first Christmas came at the darkest hour. For more than 500 years Israel had known the darkness of foreign oppression, whether from Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, or Romans.  And even within the moments when there seemed to be some independence and possession of their own land, such as under the Maccabeans, there was always the belief that they were, in some sense or another, still in exile.  They waited for a new prophet to reveal God’s activity in Israel and for the world. They waited for the Anointed One or Messiah to overthrow their pagan oppressors and end the exile.  Some had lost all hope, and all had lost some hope. Still, there was the first sign of the slow yet unavoidable melt of winter, as attested to by the elderly and devout Israelite Simeon (Lk 2:25-35) and the aged Israelite prophetess Anna (Lk 2:36-38). And just as the dark powers of Narnia shifted into high gear at the first sight of Narnia’s spring, so the dark powers of this world panicked at the arrival of the infant Jesus. Herod ordered the slaughter of Jewish children, suggesting an undercurrent of terror and turmoil in the unseen demonic kingdom.
The cold darkness of the world is the essential backdrop in order for the Christmas story to be what it is—the Gospel or “good news.” And so, whether or not it is historically accurate that Jesus was born in the heart of winter (remember shepherds were staying out in the fields according to Luke 2:8), it is symbolically right. He came to a world which was winterized by its ‘pining in sin and error.’ And he was born in the darkness of night because that is when lights are needed the most. This is why I like celebrating Christmas in winter, and why we must remember the darkness of Christmas.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
1. What is your favorite Christmas song? Why?
2. What Christmas song has been biblically / theologically instructive to you and how?
3. How does the “darkness” of the first Christmas inform your understanding of God entering into humanity’s plight?
NOTE: This post originally appeared in December 2006.
7 Comments on “The Darkness of Christmas”
I have a question…would it have snowed in Bethlehem in the wintertime anyway? It snows in certain parts of the world in winter, but not everywhere. I don’t know enough about that part of the world, and so I am wondering about that.
My favorite Christmas song is “O Holy Night,” because (you said it perfectly), it speaks of our saviour coming to a cold and empty world, but the music builds and builds with such beauty and emotion, as I imagine the anticipation of his birth did for those who knew it was coming. Oh night, divine!
My favorite Christmas song, wow, that’s a tough one. Carol of the Bells has to be my favorite to listen to, but to sing, um……nope, can’t do it. I love them all. Why? Mostly because I just love music and am such the kid at heart, they all “move” me in one way or another.
Biblically/theologically instructive? Again, not really sure. I love the Nativity. Since my children were tiny, I’ve read them the Christmas story, I’ve directed childrens Christmas musicals with the Christmas story included, of course, and now I teach children that aren’t my own about the Christmas story and every single time…..other then the miraculous conception and birth of our savior, the shepherds always play a very important role. Because of this, any song that starts with the shepherds encounter with the heavenly angels and ends with Christ’s birth, has it all for me. I pick “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” 🙂
Amanda, yes the town (now city) of Bethlehem can get snow as it is part of the mtn. range that runs north & south between the Med. Sea. and the Jordan Valley. However, whether there is snow or not, the winters, especially at night, get quite chilly. Check out http://www.weather.com to see temp. averages.
Hi Pastor Brent,
That was precious! As was the wonderful lesson we had on the Sea of Galilee and the memorable communion service you delivered with Pastor Frank in Gethsemane. Being there was one thing, the memories will now last me until I see Him face to face.
Keep those words of encouragement coming and, oh, keep those “lambs’s ears” warm this winter 🙂
Blessed be His Holy Name,
Judy Smith
Pastor Brent,
Thanks for the clarification on the winter weather. When I was in high school, I asked a girl who was a Jehovah’s Witness why she didn’t celebrate Christmas. She said it was because Jesus couldn’t have been born in the wintertime, because the shepherds wouldn’t have been out with their sheep in the snow. I didn’t say anything about it because I didn’t know one way or the other!!
By the way, did everyone see those precious Cunningham children at the Wednesday night service this past week??? If not, take a look online at the service; it was a great service, as usual, but that was a sweet addition!
I am a Christmas music fanatic. At work, I was the first to beg my boss to bring on the holiday tunes! Christmas in the wintertime is my favorite time of year and as for a favorite song, mine is Silent Night. When I was a little girl, my mother would come into my bedroom at night, sit on the end of my bed and sing Silent Night in german. Its beautiful in every language.
Silent Night reminds me that with everything that was going on, harsh weather, birth in a manger, wonderment of what the future brings, Jesus’ birth was still perfect and holy. I am especially grateful for the last verse, that serves as a reminder that this night was the dawn of redeeming grace.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
You know, just a comment, about the timing of the year that Christmas is celebrated. It is very close to the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (either December 21st or 22nd). This is the day when the North Pole is tilted maximum away from the sun. Hence, it is the “shortest day of the year” as far as sunlight for the Northern Hemisphere and marks the first day of winter on a typical international calendar.
Thus, Christians bring a lot of light to a day that has very little light from our natural sun.
Just an interesting thought…maybe God knew that we would need this holiday during the “dark” times of our calendar year…