Was it Really a Silent Night?
I often reflect that Jesus came into this world on a dark and quiet night and yet, we have ramped up this holiday crazy loud chaos. At times, it doesn't feel like it really would be Christmas without the craziness. I often wonder, "Could I still feel the same joy during Christmas without all the noise?"
However, as I read the passage in Luke this morning something new struck me. I realized it probably was not as silent a night as we think.
Luke 2:8-20 ~
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
First of all, though we aren't told how many shepherds there were, it does seem to be many (15, 20, 25?). And each of those shepherds who were tending their flocks would have had anywhere from maybe 10 to 50 sheep. So there would have been potentially hundreds of sheep. I don't know if you've been around flocks of animals, but that many sheep would not have been quiet.
The men would have been talking, laughing, joking, or maybe even arguing. That's a lot of voices in a loud culture.
Then we are told the sky was ablaze with light and radiance and an angel booms out the message. The men may have been crying out with fear. They may have screamed. The sheep may have been disturbed and loud with the commotion. They would have been fearful as well.
And can you imagine the sheer amount of noise and volume a mighty host of angels who were praising would have brought to the night?
The shepherds then would have been excitedly chattering and shouting and assigning someone the task of staying with the sheep. I'm certain they wouldn't have just left their livelihood unattended on the hillside.
What was the point of the angel telling the shepherds the baby would be tightly wrapped in strips of cloth? It seems a random piece of information. Why do we wrap up newborn babies so tightly after they are born? To help them feel safe and like they are still in the womb. To keep them from distress and keep them from crying. So obviously, the baby would have been making some noise as well.
After seeing the baby, the shepherds begin shouting and telling everyone about what they saw. I would imagine the commotion would have woken up quite a few in the neighborhood.
Finally, we are told they head back to their sheep, praising and glorifying the Lord. That is hard to do in a quiet manner.
The whole scene is one of noise, chaos and loud jubilation. In fact, the only quiet part of the entire story would have been the baby, tightly wrapped up and perhaps, the few moments the shepherds quiet down to gaze at this child.
In the middle of a chaotic environment, Jesus lay peacefully, snuggly wrapped in cloths. And I think that is the thrust of the Christmas story. In the middle of our chaotic and noisy days, when we come to Jesus, He causes us to settle down, be still and sit at His side. He restores peace into our hearts and lives. It's as if He is tightly wrapping us up in His arms. He gives us what we need to enter back into the noisy fray.
After spending time with Him, we can go back to our busy lives, but with the ability be full of peace and calm and joy. Time spent with Jesus allows us to praise and give Him the glory.
The activity and celebration and busyness we experience are okay as long as we are also taking time to settle and gaze at the face of Jesus and spend some time with Him each day. That time will restore peace to our souls and give us the strength to carry on.
As you celebrate the next few days, at times in a chaotic and noisy environment, take some time to sit with Jesus. Allow Him to wrap you up in the cloths of peace and hope and joy and His love. That will give you the strength you need to head back into the noise and busyness.
Have a very Merry Christmas, friends!
I had always wondered about "the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hayt, no crying he makes." Jesus was a REAL baby, and inmy experience, they can be quite noisy sometimes!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I've yet to see babies who are silent all of the time!
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