A Christmas Carol Message: “Silent Night”

The quintessential Christmas carol, “Silent Night,” has an interesting backstory. Written 200 years ago for a guitar accompaniment because the church organ required repair, the poignant lyrics and melody are still a perennial favorite.

This carol describes the night of Jesus’s birth. However, the initial description is a bit misleading. Was it really a silent night when Jesus was born? Giving birth is not a calm, quiet event, as any woman who has given birth can testify. The sleep of animals in attendance was probably disturbed by the activity that night.

Still, it was indeed a holy night. The night when the virgin, who had been overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, gave birth to the Son of God.

“Silent Night” also sings of the reason Jesus came that first time. Like many other Christmas carols, the lyrics speak of why the birth of this particular baby is so significant. Let’s explore several key phrases in this carol:

Virgin:

Was it important that Mary was a virgin? Yes! Mary’s virginity is critical to Jesus’s miraculous birth. Isaiah 7:14 speaks of the virgin who will conceive and give birth to a son. Matthew quoted this prophecy in his gospel account and recorded the angel’s pronouncement to Joseph that “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:20 NIV). Matthew also affirmed Mary’s status when he wrote in Jesus’s genealogy, “Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah” (Mt. 1:16 NIV). Did you notice Matthew did not say Joseph was Jesus’s father? Joseph was Mary’s husband, but he was not the biological father of Jesus.

Jesus, as the Second Person of the Trinity existed in eternity—before the creation of the world. The apostle Paul wrote, “God sent His Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4). Jesus did not begin existence in Mary’s womb. As the apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3 NIV). Remember what Jesus said to those who questioned His identity? “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (Jn. 8:58 NIV).

Christ the Savior:

Jesus’s full name is not Jesus Christ. “Christ” is a title meaning anointed one. It’s the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew title, “Messiah.” So the lyrics, “Christ the Savior,” refer to the Anointed One who was chosen—set apart— to save us from sin and reconcile us to our heavenly Father.

The writer of the book of Hebrews speaks of Jesus as anointed to be our great high priest (Heb 4:14-15). John the Baptist declared him to be set apart as “the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29). Jesus, the Son of God, was anointed to be both priest and sacrifice.

Redeeming Grace:

Finally, this beautiful Christmas carol speaks of the redemption that is ours by God’s grace. The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This baby, sung about in “Silent Night,” is the one who would grow to adulthood and fulfill all that is necessary for our salvation. We can do nothing to earn this gift and we can do nothing to add to what Jesus has done. As someone once said, “The only thing we contribute to our salvation is the sin that needs to be forgiven.”

How wonderful it is that this beloved Christmas carol encompasses the birth, identity, and ministry of our Redeemer, Jesus!

Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild.

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia.

Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night! Son of God love’s pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face. With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth. Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.