Lessons From Carolsਨਮੂਨਾ

In 130 A.D., Pope Telesphorus decreed that on Christmas Day, all churches were to have special evening services. At these services, after the reading of Scripture, the congregation was to sing “Gloria in excelsis Deo.” This practice was common in most churches by the third century. This means that the chorus to “Angels We Have Heard on High” is over 1800 years old!

1. Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o’er the plains,

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

3. Come to Bethlehem and see

Him whose birth the angels sing.

Come, adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

In this carol, God has combined three seemingly unrelated elements—a French carol, James Chadwick’s lyrics, and an early church chorus—to create something designed to praise Him. Luke 19:40 tells us that if people are silent about praising God, the stones will cry out instead. Through this carol, God has been praised for thousands of years in many cultures.

“Angels We Have Heard on High” is a carol that invites others to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The carol begins with an exciting stanza lauding the angels’ celebration of Christ’s birth. The first stanza is sung by the shepherds high up in the mountains. While they are “on high,” they hear the angels singing over the plains. The hills then echo the angels’ song. The first line of the chorus is repeated to create the illusion of echoing back from the mountains.

The second stanza has the vocalist asking the shepherds why the angels are celebrating. It must have been mind-blowing for the shepherds to witness a sky filled with worshiping angels. The third stanza invites us to join in the celebration. We are to worship the newborn King on bended knee. Each stanza finishes with the chorus, “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” which is Latin for “Glory to God in the highest,” a direct quote from Luke 2:14.

The third stanza invites the listener to Bethlehem to see the newborn King, Jesus Christ. Like the first humans to hear the angels’ proclamation of Christ’s birth, we can raise our voices in joyous song and join our praises with all the church since the second century.

Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:19-20 to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” There are many ways to share the gospel with others. We do not have to go door-to-door to tell people about Jesus. (Although that is a great way to do so!) Another way to share the gospel is by singing carols and celebrating Christmas. We can invite friends to outreach events, Christian concerts, or Bible studies. Many non-Christians will attend candlelight services to celebrate Christmas with their families. Christmas is one of the best times to invite others to church. How will you share the good news of Jesus Christ with others this holiday season?