Silent Nights, Silent Miracles



"I, Jesus, ... am the bright morning star." (Rev. 22:16 NCV)

One of the most beloved of Christmas carols is Silent Night. Though full of activity there is a stillness, a calmness, reflected as we watch God bring about His story that silent, holy night long ago. Silence though serene can also be unnerving.

The Silence of God. For four hundred years between the Old and New Testaments the voice of God remained silent. The Mosaic Covenant closes with the promise of a coming Messiah, without which the earth remains cursed. Then a deafening silence. Hope ebbed and flowed with each passing year and each succeeding generation. Would the promise be fulfilled and the curse removed?

Even in His silence is God really silent? No. Matthew's Gospel opens with the detailed family tree from Abraham to Jesus the Messiah. Such accounting reveals from generation to generation God's design, though detoured many times, was never derailed. There was always a moving forward. God was at work.

In our own times of silent nights we can be encouraged knowing that God is aware and working behind the scenes bringing us into position.

Miracles are public affairs. But there are miracles of the silent type, that go unnoticed and unannounced. Jesus on occasion operated in this realm. Stars are active bodies of gas and energy but on a starlit night they are seen as twinkling points of light. They shine constantly but are seen best at night.

I have a picture of a silhouetted steeple cross on a dark starlighted night. That's Jesus, our morning star, always present, always shining; our guiding light in the night.

The Silence of Doubt. The first person God spoke to after His silence was Zechariah announcing the forerunner of the Messiah and he was to have a part in it. So unbelievable was the message that the aged priest doubted and fell silent. Doubt peels away our confidence and we are left speechless. God didn't leave Zechariah in that state. The next time we meet him he is Zechariah the prophet, filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesying. The fulfilling of God's word changes everything and we proclaim His glories.

The Silence of Contemplation. Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2:18-20)

Such amazement. Such wonder. Such praise. And adoration. But Mary treasured these moments in her heart. Some things are just too holy, too precious, to talk about. Simeon, Anna the prophetess, the Magi, all had their seasons of holy devotion before speaking.

"He was praying, or he was weeping, or he was staring into eternity." This is how the servants of George Fridric Handel described the master's fevered labour as he composed the classic work Messiah. After reading a compilation of biblical texts Handel was overcome by their power. The music began dancing and exploding within him. Closeting himself in a room he worked night and day, often forgetting to eat or sleep. His servants often heard sobs as their dedicated master poured his soul into the musical composition. In just 24 days the masterpiece was completed.

The Silence of grief. In a frenzied attempt to silence the messianic threat to his rule Herod initiated the Slaughter of the Innocents.

"A voice was heard in Ramah of painful crying and deep sadness: Rachel crying for her children. She refused to be comforted, because her children are dead." (Matt. 2:18)

This is the other side of Christmas; the sad side, the dark side. Death. Separation. Hatred. Homelessness. Hunger. War. Sorrow. Tears. This is for many today, US!

What a gift it is that God in Jesus became a human, a human who cries as we do, who understands our tears, and who has assured us He is coming ... and asks us to hold on! (John 11)

The Silence of the Journey. Each character in the Christmas Gospel walked individually toward their destiny. Alone and often lonely. Their they encountered doubt, failure, uncertainty. Their they discovered hope, future, God. So will we. So do we.

One final silent night which puts all others into perspective is the Silence of the Cross.

He was beaten down and punished, but he didn't say a word. He was like a lamb being led to be killed. He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut; he never opened his mouth. (Isa. 53:7)

When His persecutors falsely accused Him, Jesus said nothing.

Hanging in torment on the cross for nearly six hours, He spoke only a few brief sentences.

While darkness covered the land and it was like night for three hours - the voice of Jesus and the voice of the Father were both silent.

Silent for you. For me. For the world.

Silently bearing our wrong doing. Our rebellion. Our pain.

Silently turning our nights into bright tomorrows.

Our silent nights, of whatever kind, can produce silent miracles.

And we sing The Hallelujah Chorus!

Joy to the World!