The Tradition of Christmas Carols and Caroling

The dictionary defines the word “carol” as a song of praise or joy, especially for Christmas. Most of you love Christmas carols, and I would be willing to bet that most of you have a favorite. What is your favorite Christmas carol?

Have you ever wondered what the very first Christmas carol was? “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer?” No, it was written in 1979. “Silent Night?” No, it was written by Father Joseph Mohr in 1818. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing?” No, it was written by Charles Wesley in 1739. “Joy to the World?” The great hymn writer Isaac Watts composed this masterpiece twenty years earlier in 1719. The chant-like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” was composed in the 12th century.

St. Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, wrote a number of Christmas carols just a few years after Pope Julius I designated December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353. His carol “Come Thou Redeemer of the Earth” which we sang in our service today was among them. Church history reveals that an unnamed Roman Bishop asked that a carol called “Angel’s Hymn” be sung at a Christmas service in Rome in the year A.D. 129. Unfortunately, the words of this hymn have been lost through the ages. But even this was not the first Christmas carol.

The first two Christmas carols were sung on the very night that Christ was born. The gospel of Luke tells us that there was a group of shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)

Over the years, there has been some controversy over whether these words were actually sung or simply spoken. Some people have concluded that the words were just spoken because of the verb “saying.” The problem with this interpretation is that they neglect the verb “praising” which throughout the Bible, almost always refers to singing. Why did Luke use both verbs to describe the angel’s proclamation? I believe it is because the verb “praising” indicated the manner of the message and the verb “saying” reveals content of the message. Therefore, this short phrase “glory to God in the highest” in English, “Gloria in excelsis deo” in Latin, or “doza en ufistois theo” in Greek was the first Christmas carol ever composed and sung.

The second Christmas carol is also mentioned in Luke’s version of the nativity story. He says that as soon as the angels finished their song, the shepherds left their flocks and went to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened. The shepherds found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger, just as the angel had said. After this, Luke tells us that the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that that they had seen and heard. Now we don’t know the words of the songs, but we do know that the joy of Christmas was expressed through their carols as they returned to their flocks. The angel’s and shepherd’s carols that were first sung on the night that Jesus was born began a tradition that has been carried for the last 2000 years and is still going strong today.

The tradition of Christmas carols and caroling has certainly changed a lot over the past 2000 years, but one thing has always remained the same: we sing to express the joy of Christmas. Just as the angels and shepherds sang their carols of joyful praise on that first Christmas night, so every year we continue to sing carols of praise to express the joy of Christmas.

An Expression of Joy (Isaiah 9:3)

The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was certainly a joyful event. When the angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary that she was going to bear the Son of God, she responded by singing a lullaby of joy. When the host angel’s burst onto the scene to announce Jesus’ birth, they uttered a ballad of joy. When the shepherds beheld the beautiful baby lying in the manger, they returned to their fields with a refrain of joy. But as with hope and peace, joy was linked with Christmas long before Christmas ever happened.

700 hundred years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah spoke about the joy of Christmas. In Isaiah 9:3, he prophecies that the nation will be enlarged and that the people’s joy will be increased. Their joy will be like that of the farmer at harvest time and the soldier when the war is over and the plunder is divided. But when and how would the people experience this joy? Like many Old Testament prophecies, this one has at least three fulfillments. Let me explain.

In Isaiah 8, the prophet predicts that the Assyrian army was going to conquer the northern kingdom of Israel and the people would be forced into exile. History tells us that this is exactly what happened in 722 B.C. The Assyrians burned their homes, desecrated their land, and deported the Israelites to other parts of their empire. The Israelites who escaped were forced to live in caves and could barely scrounge enough food to survive.

The first fulfillment of this prophecy occurred when the Assyrian empire collapsed in 607 B.C. Israel would rejoice because they regained much of the land that they had lost. The exiles who were scattered returned to their homeland and they could begin their lives again. This first fulfillment was physical, for God would indeed enlarge their nation and increase their joy.

As you consider the fulfillment of this prophecy from 2700 years ago, think about what it reveals about God’s character. Unlike most of us, God always keeps his word. He never makes a promise that he doesn’t keep. Also, he deals with us the same way he dealt with his people Israel. When we act out against him, he disciplines us, but even in his discipline he shows love and compassion. There is always the promise of forgiveness and restoration when we humble ourselves before him.

The second fulfillment came at the birth of Christ. This is where Isaiah 9:3 and 9:6 meets. God would enlarge their nation and increase their joy spiritually through the birth of his son into the world. This child who was born—this son that was given, would liberate his people from sin and bring restoration from spiritual exile. His birth, death, and resurrection would bring salvation for everyone who would put their faith in him. This would be a spiritual “enlarging of the nation” through the gospel message being taken to the world—both Jews and Gentiles. And everyone who would follow the son would experience the joy of knowing that their sins are forgiven and that the kingdom of God has been opened to them.

Have you experienced the second fulfillment of this prophecy? Have you put your faith in this child who was born? Have you made a decision to follow this son that was given? Have you experienced the joy of knowing that your sins are forgiven and that you will spend eternity in the kingdom of God?

The third fulfillment of this prophecy hasn’t happened yet, but it will. It will be fulfilled for the last time when Jesus returns to take his people home. It is when God will ultimately enlarge his nation and increase the people’s joy. This final fulfillment is both spiritual and physical. As the farmer rejoices at the bountiful harvest and the soldier rejoices when dividing the plunder, those who have embraced Jesus Christ will return be restored to their rightful home—a place where there is no more death, disease, or destruction—no more sin, sickness, or sadness—no more spiritual exile, emotional pain, or psychological scars—no more guilt from the past or fear of the future. It will be a place of absolute perfection where we will sing carols of joy forever!

Are you looking forward to Christ’s Second Advent? Are you looking forward to the consummation of his kingdom? Are you ready to experience eternal joy?

If there is anyone here this morning that has not yet put their faith in Jesus Christ, I urge you to do it this morning. I plead with you to humble yourself before God, repent from your sins, and make a decision to follow him before you leave church today! Embrace the child that was born for you! Take hold of the son that was given for you. I guarantee that you will experience joy like you never have before!

For those of you who have already embraced Christ, I say to you: Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice that God sent his son! Rejoice that Christ was born in Bethlehem for you! Rejoice that he was laid in a manger for you! Rejoice with the angels and shepherds who were there on that first night! Rejoice that he died on the cross for your sins! Rejoice that he is with you now! Rejoice that he helps us through the difficulties of life right now! Rejoice that death has no power over you! Rejoice that he is coming again! Rejoice that you will be delivered from the pain of this world and you will spend eternity in heaven!

Rejoice! Rejoice! I say it again, rejoice! Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let us receive our king!