Introduction: I was so fortunate to go to a private school in Knoxville that valued hands on learning. It also valued celebrating Christmas. We used to go to nursing homes and sing. I had terrible stage fright as a kid…unless I was singing Christmas music. Drummer Boy was my favorite. It was such a blessing to go to school where Christmas was embraced instead of having a culture where it had to be smuggled in. Also growing up, my family always celebrated Christmas in a big way. As I teacher, I tried to make sure that Christmas had a place in my classroom. So with that in mind, here is the first in a series of posts about Christmas. We are going to take a look at the music, movies, traditions, and history of Christmas. We might even have a guest poster or two! I hope these posts will be a source of celebration, hope, and worship of the One who can take the brokenness of our lives…and make us new.
Post #1: An Announcment The birth of Jesus was foretold throughout the Old Testament. The birth of Jesus was maybe the most anticipated event in human history. And oddly, when he showed up in a manger, many of the religious elite missed it – even though his birth was announced hundreds of years in advance.
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you c a sign: The virgin d will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
I can’t imagine the anticipation in heaven that would have preceded the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a celebration which I have to think (the authentic kind…not the worldly kind) has been placed within our hearts from before the world was born. I think the anticipation of Jesus has been knit into our very being, and if we listen carefully, we can hear the voice of our shepherd. The ability to recognize his voice has been written into our DNA.
In my mind I like to picture the angels silently hovering high above sleepy shepherds on the very first Christmas night. One angel looks over at the rest and says, “Are you all ready to do this?!” And so begins the greatest story every told. Oh this story isn’t just some legend. It is a lifesaving story for those who believe it. It is life changing for those who live it.
Into the darkness of Roman occupation, the world would have an opportunity to gaze into the sparkling eyes of their Creator. The Kingdom of God was soon to be at hand. The holy emissary of the the Inventor of all Creation was about to arrive. Forgiveness would be His calling card. Love would be his currency. He was coming to retrieve what had been lost. We would again be his people.
With each post, I am going to share some our favorite Christmas music. Maybe you can use it in your classrooms. Maybe you can just listen to it in your car. Either way, I hope you enjoy the music as much as we do.
I really like this album by For King and Country. I encourage you to listen to these two pieces back to back – A Christmas Monologue and then Drummer Boy. It is an announcement, an announcement of the arrival of the Son of of the one true King.
And now he offers us redemption
A fresh start, freedom
So that we can hold our heads high
And march through this life knowing that we are never alone
Pro Tip: You know there are times that I doodle in sandbox mode in my mind. How awesome would the King and Country version of Little Drummer be for a high school marching band, orchestra, and chorus to be arranged as a gigantic ensemble? It would bring the house down. The kids would love it, especially percussion.
