Lessons and Carols

I wonder, as I wander out under the sky, How Jesus the Savior did come for to die, For poor ornery sinners like you and like I. I wonder, as I wander out under the sky, When Mary birthed Jesus twas in a cow stall, With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all, And high from God's heaven a star's light did fall, And the promise of ages it then did recall. If Jesus had wanted for any weaving, A star in the sky or a bird on the wing, Or for all of God's angels in heaven for to sing, He surely could have had it, cause he was the King.

I wonder, as I wander out under the sky, How Jesus the Savior did come for to die, For poor ornery people like you and like I. I wonder, as I wander out under the sky. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made. And the light was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him.

He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we can be held to his glory, for the glory has something only begun to live on, full of grace and truth. Pray forth, O new, just and delight, and assure in the morning these shepherds shrink not with the fright, but hear the angels' mourning.

This child now wicked in fancy. Our confidence and joy shall be the power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal painting. There, O who has the stretch of heart, the everlasting was the Word, with God he was, the Word was the, then the streamline he be adored. My tears are not where all is rain, my hymns are boring, all things stand, it is the whole creation's sin, and angels' blood hath been strong then. The glory leads us, and we once were born, and sin's end was in vain. Let me make the passions with words, let's teach that the old flesh shall stay. For those rejoined in all is this eternal Father's only Son, thou fool of truth, thou fool of grace, the brightness of the Father is shown. Our angels live there high above, through our new mysteries we're entered.

O Allah, our God is singing of the glories of heaven and earth. Psalm 2, Micah 5, 2 through 5. But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, it out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time that she who is in labor has given birth. Then the remnant of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel, and he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord. In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God, and they shall abide. For now he shall be great to the ends of the earth, and this one shall be peace.

The champions. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. From the mighty and sleepless sea, the silent stars abide. And in thy sights we shine in the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are heavenly tonight. For Christ is born of memory when gathered all alone. While mortals sing, the angels beware what our wandering love. O boring stars together proclaim the holy birth. And praises sing to the hugging and peace to him on earth. Now silently, now silently, the wondrous gift is given. So God embarks to human hearts the blessings of his hand.

No air by air is coming out in this world of sin. Where we souls to praise see him still, the dear Christ enters in. Lesson three, the people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Those who dwell in the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name, Emmanuel. See him in the angel, Lord for us on earth belong. See the land of God appears, promised from eternal years. Hail, the other blessed Lord! Hail, redemption's happy Lord! Sing for old Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lord, within our wings and eyes, we who build the starry skies, We who from in life survive, since the middle of Jerusalem. Hail, the ever-blessed Lord! Hail, redemption's happy Lord! Sing for old Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Stay, great bird of divine, by the tender love of time, thus to come from Christ's place, and in such a world as this. Hail, the ever-blessed Lord! Hail, redemption's happy Lord! Sing for old Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lesson 4. Thou shall come forth the rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge by the sight of his eyes, nor decide by the hearing of his ears. But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with iniquity for the meek of the earth. He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.

Righteousness shall be of the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist. Oh, how beautiful with light and earth shall the sound of Jesse's lineage coming! The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. The cold of winter weathers the stem of the Lord.

I say, at last foretold is the rose I have in mind. With Mary we behold it, oh, Virgin love of her kind, You show us love of right, Shame o'er to us the Savior, I have spent most the night. Oh, for whose great rest and praise sweetness fills the air, Yes, well in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. Yet very long from sin and death must save us, and share our every hope.

And share our every gloom. Luke 1 26-33 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary, and having come in, the angel said to her, Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God, and behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin, one and child, holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, shepherds wake at the sight, glory stream from heaven far, heavenly hosts sing Alleluia, Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Luke 2, one through seven. And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went out from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. As waitfully washed over our fields through the night, a star there was seen of such glorious light all through the night. Angels in singing, heralds sweet, so sweet of the birth of a King, all through the night angels did sing, heralds so sweet of the birth of a King.

His throne is a manger, his court is a lord, but awesome righteous cows mistreat sweet and tall. Him they proclaim, thy life thy name, thy joy and their strength are filled with his name, thy joy and their profane, shepherds be joyful, salute your beauty, and hills and bales ring turn the song that you sing. For Christ our dear Savior on earth now is born, all through the night angels did sing, heralds so sweet for the birth of a King.

Carols so sweet for the birth of a King. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in love's bright sky looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are mowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay my life cradle till morning is nigh.

Hear me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay, close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and live us for heaven to live with thee there. Lesson 7, Luke 2, 8 through 20.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for all people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be a sign to you, you'll find the babe wrapped in swaddling claws, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherd said to one another, Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning the child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen as it was told them.

For it is not there in all hell. The first world war the angels did see Was there certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay? In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel Eloheh, Eloheh, Eloheh And saw a star shining in the east Beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it was she, with no finger tied Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel Eloheh, Eloheh, Eloheh And let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath laid half an earth of cost And with his one and kind hath bought Noel, Noel Born is the King Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel Born is the King Noel, Noel And so it was she, with no finger tied Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him One who shall praise the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Praise to the Lord our God, one who shall praise him Lesson 8, Matthew 2, 1-11. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

For we have seen a star in the east, and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophets, But you, Bethlehem, and the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah.

For out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search carefully for the young child.

And when you have found him, bring back word to me, that I may worship him also. When they heard the king, they departed. And behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, then they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and they fell down, and they worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And when they saw the star, then they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and they fell down, and they worshiped him. Grace, grace, his Christ the King, Whose shepherds love and care to serve, Grace, grace, to bring him home, The thing that struck her memory. Grace, grace, to bring him home, The thing that struck her memory. Grace, grace, his Christ the King, Whose shepherds love and care to serve, Grace, grace, to bring him home, The thing that struck her memory.

Grace, grace, his Christ the King, Whose shepherds love and care to serve, Grace, grace, his Christ the King, Whose shepherds love and care to serve, Grace, grace, his Christ the King, Whose shepherds love and care to serve, Grace, grace, to bring him home, The thing that struck her memory. Lesson 9, 1 John 4, 9 and 10. In this, the love of God was manifest toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin. Philippians 2, 5-11, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. God's love abates in His holy name, that I may preach, or speak, or learn, that through the spirit we all must remember, all through the spirit we may whisper. And we are for Thee, God the Praising, all for the sake, giving as well, service alone, the sailors raising, and their hearts on this very old land, and through art all, beyond the praising sun, all for the sake, giving as well. Now through art all, beyond the telling, Savior and King, we worship Thee, Emmanuel, giving as well, we worship Thee, Now through art all, beyond the telling, Savior and King, we worship Thee.

Let us read responsibly, Colossians 1, 12-19, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son, His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it please the Father, that in Him all the fullness should know.

Stand please. And heaven and nature sing, All things that ever knew are clear, Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and spirit reconcile, Joyful all ye gracious ones, Joyful child of the stars, Make them share with us today, As His glory gave the hand, Hark the herald angels sing, All hail the new-born King! Christ by Christ and the Lord, Christ the everlasting Lord, Late in time the Lord did come, Offspring of the present day, Hail Him, bless the Godhead's King, Hail Him, Godhead, King of King, Praise His name, we pray to You well, Jesus, help him evermore, God and the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King! And the Lamb of Prince of Peace, Hail the Son of righteousness, Light and light, all He brings, Whisk with feeling in His feet, monthly praises for He won, Lord and member, Lord and iron, Lord to praise the stars of earth, Lord to give in His spirit, Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King!

I want to take a moment and bring just a very short devotion with you this evening to bring a conclusion to our lessons and carols. I want you to go back with me to the village of Nazareth. Jesus has been in Capernaum, has begun His public ministry, He's been performing miracles and doing wonders among the people. And the testimony of what He has done has filtered back into Nazareth. It is the Sabbath day, and as it is the custom of the Lord Jesus, He went to the synagogue. And when He went into the synagogue, He was handed the scroll. And I want you to listen to what Jesus said as He read the scriptures.

This is Luke chapter 4 beginning at verse 16, you'll see the words on the screen. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

Then He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Can you imagine, Jesus read from Isaiah chapter 61, prophecy given 700 years prior. And Jesus is in the synagogue and reads that prophetic portion and says, Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

Absolutely astounding. Every eye was upon Him. My focus tonight in these few moments, not to take away from what He said, but is upon what He did not say. Because Jesus read from Isaiah 61, He read verse 1 and He read the first part of verse 2, but He stopped mid-sentence. And where did He stop? The rest of verse 2 of Isaiah 61 says, And, well let me find it and read it to you. Isaiah 61, Jesus stopped with these words, To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. That's where He stopped. He did not say, And the day of vengeance of our God.

That's what He didn't say. And what's significant about what Jesus didn't say? John the Baptist was the forerunner. We sang hymns tonight about John the Baptist. We read scriptures about John the Baptist. But John the Baptist didn't understand fully that Jesus came on a mission to save.

You remember what he said? Listen to what he said in Matthew. We're told in Matthew chapter 11, Now it came to pass when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in the cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and he said to him, Are you the coming one, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see, the blind see and the lame walk. The lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

And blessed is he who is not offended because of me. John was expecting judgment. John was expecting the vengeance of the Lord. And he hadn't seen it.

And it didn't look like it was coming. And therefore he thought Jesus was not the Messiah. John chapter 3, we have probably the most familiar verse known to anyone.

What is it? For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And a verse or two later, it says this about the Lord Jesus. He did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He didn't come to condemn the world.

He didn't come to point a finger. He came that men might be saved. That was the mission that He came on. John wasn't the only one who struggled with why Jesus came.

And he's not the only one that was expecting this aspect of judgment. This story in Luke chapter 9. Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for Him.

But they did not receive Him because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did? But He turned and rebuked them and said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

And they went to another village. Folks, this Christmas season, let's check our spirit and make sure we have the heart of the Savior. That we have a burden for the lost. That we don't have a heart of judgment toward those who have not bowed the knee and received the Lord Jesus.

It's easy to cultivate a spirit of judgment and a desire for vengeance. But that's not the spirit of Jesus. There is a day on God's calendar, Jesus is coming again. And when He comes, the second time, it will be in judgment.

He didn't come the first time for that purpose. So my question is, why did Jesus stop mid-sentence? I think to magnify the message of the grace of God. To scream at all who were there, that that is the purpose of Jesus' coming. John says, the law came through Moses, but grace and truth through the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's champion the message of grace.

Let's herald grace. Tell it wherever you go. Tell it to your children. Tell it to your neighbors. Tell it to your co-workers.

Tell it to anyone who will listen to you. There's grace. There's forgiveness.

There's liberty. There's freedom in Jesus Christ. And if you're here tonight and you don't know Him, He didn't come to judge you. He didn't come to condemn you. He came to save.

What a sad commentary. This one whose arms were open. This one who came to set the captives free. Who came to proclaim the good news of the gospel of salvation. He came unto His own, but His own received Him not.

He was rejected by His own people. But the good news is, but as many as did receive Him, to them, He gave the power to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His name. Are you believing on Him tonight?

Are you trusting Him? Is your heart open to receive the grace of God? That's the desire that we have tonight. That we would set Christ before you in His saving purpose, in His saving power. That He loves sinners. That's why He came. That's why He left the glories of heaven. Again, not to condemn, not to judge. He came that the world would be saved through Him.

That's our message tonight. If you have not received Him, come to Him. Jesus said, all who come unto Me, I will and no wise cast out. He's a gentle Savior. He's a tender one. He's a loving one. He will do you good, not only in this life, but for all eternity.