Silent Night: A meditation

“Silent night, holy night; all is calm, all is bright.”

The tranquil setting of the First Christmas was heavenly in its peacefulness, but it was destined to be short-lived. That first night was free from the noise of sinful society and undisturbed by the chaos of sin that would before long surround Jesus. That silent night was a little microcosm of heaven, having only the presence of God and of those who love Him. It would be quite understandable that everyone would have longed to keep things just like that peaceful scene.

But Jesus came into a world of conflict, to a battle between light and darkness. And He did so, not to immediately claim victory over a dark world, but that by dying in seeming defeat He might share heavenly peace with those who believe. But, there can be no peace on earth, nor good will among men unless the Prince of Peace grants it to us through receiving it from His good will. So, Jesus willingly came into this world; not to an idyllic slice of heaven, but to a war zone and an enemy desperate to prevent his own defeat by the rightful King.

“Shepherds quake at the sight.”

The intrusion of Heaven's chorus was both strange and triumphant. Unfamiliar with that ultimate reality which lies just beyond our mortal eyes, the shepherds were full of fear at the angels' entrance into man's world. We don’t naturally grasp an appreciation of the difference between the earthly and the heavenly, so an encounter with even a little bit of the eternal is unnerving to ordinary folk.

But God is not out to scare anyone, not even those who could use a good wake-up call from Heaven. His purpose is to get our attention, and by that means to get an appropriate response to His holiness. Salvation is not possible without the heavenly breaking into the earthly, for it could not be the reverse. Salvation must always be at heaven's initiative, for none could even "meet God halfway." And if not for the repeated announcement of the gospel message, the world would let His coming go unnoticed.

“Son of God, love’s pure light.”

The birth of Christ was not the beginning of salvation's work, for God had already been busy on the ultimate restoration of the world for millennia. The birth of the Light of the world was, however, the dawn of true redemption, not just the symbolic atonement of the Old Testament Law. And this birth was assurance that the final day of God's righteousness would surely follow. That “silent night” is the greatest testimony to God's mercy and grace, that the coming of His Son was not first an act of the righteous Judge, but was instead the advent of a humble Savior. The long night of expectation by the prophets was now realized through this quiet entrance.

“Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace.”

The light of the manger scene was symbolic of the beginning of God's complete work of salvation, entering a dark world and growing to a conclusion, like the child would grow into the Lamb of God. The baby of the manger would not immediately take His place as the Lamb, but His presence meant that the Light had come.

The coming of the Savior was not an instant effusion of light upon a dark world, but a portent of the light that would dawn upon all who believe. It is perhaps the ultimate irony that the unbelieving mind considers as "enlightenment" a secular perspective which disregards the true light of God's truth. But for the believer, the dawn unto fullness of day will not be complete until the day when we know as we are "fully known."

And redemption is assured by the fact of Christ's Lordship. Christ's work of salvation was not accomplished like some earthly warrior, coming to engage an enemy in an uncertain conflict. He came into the world already the Victor, having only to work out the inevitable defeat of evil. For Christ, Lordship was already an eternal fact, and the triumph over death, the devil, and sin had only to be played out on the field, with a certain outcome. Grace has dawned, and the day of our redemption draws nigh.