My alarm clock went off early on Sunday morning, reminding me that it was my week to play on the worship team. I shut it off and rolled out of bed, groaning. But by the time I made it to the shower, a song was already dancing through my head. At first, I couldn’t identify it–no words would join the melody line. I recognized it as a church hymn–maybe it was one of the carols we had rehearsed for this last Sunday before Christmas. I finished getting ready, waved to my family and scooped up my mandolin as I headed out the door. Suddenly the words to the tune sprang to my lips. “Christ the Lord is Risen Today… All-le-lu-ia!” But the song followed me down the street. “Raise your joys and triumphs high! Aaaaa-le-luuu-iaaaaaa!”
I gave in and let the song finish. “Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Aaaa-le-luuuu-ia!”
Okay, NOW Christmas. That last line niggled at me, though. It seemed similar to a line of a song we were rehearsing. It took me until I arrived at the church to figure it out. “Sing, ye heavens and earth reply…” is eerily similar to “Let heaven and nature sing” from “Joy to the World.” Both songs point out that God’s most amazing gift deserves a reply.
My kids like to play with the “Resurrection Eggs” at Easter. Each plastic egg opens to reveal a small piece of the Easter story. They’ve learned to take turns opening the eggs and telling the story. A few years ago, my daughter opened the egg that contains a strip of linen cloth to symbolize how they wrapped Jesus’ body after his death. She pulled it out and recited, “And they wrapped him in cloths…” Without missing a beat, my son piped up, “And they laid Him in a manger!”
I remember how my heart skipped a beat. The climax of the gospel points back to the beginning of the story. What a beautiful twist! Easter poinst to Christmas. Christmas points to Easter.
So as you celebrate Christmas, remember where this story leads: to a cross and an empty tomb. The angels sang on that first Christmas morn. Now, it’s our turn to reply. “Sing ye heavens and earth reply…Aaa-llle-luuu-ia!” “And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing. And heaven, and heaven and nature sing!”