Message: “O Holy Night, Part 1: A Muddled Mess Resulting in Beauty (Isaiah 40:1-5, 61:1-3)” from Tim Valentino

The hauntingly tender Christmas carol “O Holy Night” has a strange and fascinating history. Indeed, the version we have in our hymnbooks today was the result of a joint effort among individuals who would by no stretch be considered orthodox Christians.  The lyrics were written by a lapsed Catholic. The score was written by a non-practicing Jew. The piece was first sung in public by a popular opera singer. The English translation came from a transcendentalist who denied basic biblical doctrine. The official church hierarchy originally opposed the song even though congregations loved it and demanded that it be sung. That’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how this alluring carol came to our ears today. Yet for all the twists and turns in its strange and bumpy journey—not to mention its wildly loose translation into English—the result is truly beautiful. In fact, it’s just not a Christmas Eve service if we don’t sing “O Holy Night.” The carol itself, then, can be seen as a helpful illustration of life itself. We, too, experience many zigs and zags on the way to our divinely intended destination. But God can take the broken pieces of our lives and shape them into a beautiful mosaic. We do much the same with stained glass windows. We gather sharp and broken pieces of colored glass and fit them together with design and intentionality to tell the Jesus story. The God of the universe does the same with his people. He tells the story of Jesus and his love through the order and design he brings to our chaotic lives. God’s gracious work in us is “a thrill of hope” for which “the weary world rejoices.”

Scripture References: Isaiah 40:1-5, Isaiah 61:1-3

Related Topics: Adolphe Adam, Advent, Christmas, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Placide Cappeau, Providence, Sovereignty | More Messages from Tim Valentino | Download Audio

From Series: "O Holy Night"

When it comes to raw theology in Christmas carols, nothing compares to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” It’s an intellectual tour de force, and believers marvel at how Wesley was able to capture so much Christian truth in a single hymn. But when it comes to raw emotion, few carols can compete with “O Holy Night.” The beloved “Silent Night” is certainly up there with it, but little else from the Christmas repertoire can capture the heart to such an extent. “O Holy Night” can bring tears to the eyes, send chills down the spine, and put believers on their knees in praise and worship. It’s that effective. For Pastor Tim, “O Holy Night” is doubly emotional because it happened to be his mother’s favorite carol. When it came time for Cherie Valentino to pass from this life to the next, his family gathered around her hospital bed singing this very hymn. In fact, all her medical equipment “flat-lined” right as they were singing the words, “O hear the angel voices.” She died, and then she did—she did hear the angel voices that very moment, as she left this world with an abiding faith in Christ. It was a deep and precious sorrow for all who were there for that sacred moment. For all that, “O Holy Night,” as we have it today was the result of a joint effort among individuals who would not, by any standard, be considered orthodox Christians. Yet the result is still a masterpiece of seasonal beauty. Journey with us as we look at various aspects of—and the story behind—this beloved Christmas Carol.