Christmas Carol: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Artwork:
Starry Night, by Vincent van Gogh, (1889) is an oil-on-canvas painting. This work has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1941. The Dutch Post-Impressionist painter van Gogh uses vivid blues and yellows to depict the constellations, creating a perception of added luminescence in the night sky.

Carol Text: Edmund Sears, 1849;
Carol Melody: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850
Piano accompaniment by Lezlie Taguding

It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth good will to men
From heaven’s all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing

But with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring; –
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!

And ye beneath life’s crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

- John 14:27

Advent Devotional


Jesus knew that His crucifixion was near. He had just been talking to his disciples about loving Him (v15), keeping His commandments (v21), receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit (v17b), and keeping mindful of what He taught them (v27). In this context He promises them peace. Remembering several of His key teachings would be vital to this peace: God, the maker of heaven and earth, is holy love; He is good, merciful, and gracious; He is all-knowing, all- wise, all-powerful, and sovereign over his creation. Nothing takes Him by surprise and nothing can thwart Him as He works out His purposes day by day in the world and in our lives. This God is our Father; He loves us with an everlasting love and calls us to love Him with all our heart in return.

God’s love would soon be made concrete to them when Jesus, the Lamb of God, would die to take away the sin of the world. This would upend the disciples’ lives and shatter their hopes and dreams. But if they would re- member what Jesus taught them and trust God in spite of all appearances, they would experience peace. Belief in Jesus’ teachings and trust in God were essential. Sadly, they succumbed to fear— ‘the polio of the soul that keeps us from walking by faith.’ But after seeing the Risen Jesus, their faith returned stronger than ever.

In this fallen world, hard times will sometimes come—things hard to understand and hard to endure. But as with Jesus’ first disciples, they come by God’s permission, and whatever He allows to touch our lives, He will use for our good to conform us to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:28). When they do, the Holy Spirit will give us peace as we remember Jesus’ words and trust God.

Prayer

Lord, may I believe Your promises
and receive Your peace. Regardless of
my circumstances, draw my attention
to Your everlasting love and help
me to trust in You.

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Thomas A. Tarrants

Author, President Emeritus, CSLI

Thomas A. Tarrants is President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute. After serving twelve years as president and nine years as vice President, he retired from his position as Vice President for Ministry and Director, Washington Area Fellows Program, with CSLI in June 2019. He holds a Master's of Divinity Degree, as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Christian Spirituality. Tom is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church Alliance and a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. He spends his time writing, mentoring, consulting and traveling. His life story is told in Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

 

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