“Silent Night” is probably one of the most well-known and beloved Christmas songs. The words were written in 1816 and set to music in 1818 (Joseph Mohr/Franz Xaver Gruber). In the early 1800s, it made sense to consider Jesus’ birth as a quiet, peaceful evening. But is that true?
In 2004, Andrew Peterson wrote a song that vastly differed from “Silent Night.” It is called “Labor of Love” and begins with, “It was not a silent night.” In our current world, it makes sense to consider the night of Jesus’ birth as filled with chaos and noise.
So, which is it? We cannot know which is accurate. The Bible doesn’t tell us that detail. Perhaps neither or maybe both are true. But what we can know is that Jesus was born. Fully man and fully God. He was born with a purpose and His birth was foretold thousands of years ago.
Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
That night, whether silent or filled with noise, happened–and we celebrate not just His birth, but His coming to fulfill His purpose.
Isaiah 9:6-7 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
One portion of God’s purpose in sending Jesus to earth as a baby was in one of the names given in Isaiah 9:6, “He would be the ‘Prince of Peace,’ the monarch whose coming results in peace between God and man and between man and man (cf. Micah 5:4)” (Dr. Thomas L. Constable’s Notes on Micah, pg 92).
As believers living in this current world filled with conflict, hate, sinful actions, fear, and hopeless people, we have the promise of peace because of the baby given to us on that first Christmas eve. He gives us peace with God as we are reconciled to Him through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. We can have peace with others, although that seems to be very difficult these days.
Remember this Christmas season that God has given us peace through His Son. Know that peace in your heart despite what is happening around you. Rejoice in the peace we have as God’s purpose is continually being fulfilled each day.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,” John 14:27.
Taking It Further:
How can you remind yourself of God’s peace even when your day is far from peaceful? How do you share the promise of peace with others who are going through difficult times?
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