TheReadingsfromtheNineLessonsandCarols

Thereare manydifferentreadingsatChristmasandifyougototheChristmasservices,including Christmascarolservicesandconcerts,ChristinglesandNativityPlays,itislikelythatyouwillhear quiteafewofthemostcommonones. OneofthemostlovedtraditionalChristmasfestivalsisthe NinelessonsandCarols whichare broadcasteveryChristmasEvefromKings CollegeCambridge (see http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/index.html) Thistraditional service takesnineofthebestknownandlovedbiblepassagesabout thebirthof Jesusandinterspersesthemwithcarolswhichpickupthethemeofthereadings. The readingsaregivenhere(notetheyaregiveninthetraditional old languageoftheStJames versionoftheBible,asyouwouldhearthemontheradio orTV)withexplanationsofwhattheyare about.IfyouaregoingtochurchatChristmasforanyotherservice,itislikelythatyouwillcome acrosssomeofthesereadingstellingusaboutthebirthofJesus.

Firstreading
GodtellssinfulAdamthathehaslostthelife ofParadiseandthathisseedwillbruisethe serpentshead. GENESIS 3 AND theyheardthevoiceoftheLordGodwalkingin thegardeninthecooloftheday:andAdam andhis wifehidthemselvesfromthepresenceoftheLord Godamongstthetreesofthegarden.And theLordGod calleduntoAdam,andsaiduntohim,Whereartthou?And hesaid,Iheardthyvoicein thegarden,andIwasafraid, becauseIwasnaked;andIhidmyself.Andhesaid,Who toldtheethat thouwastnaked?Hastthoueatenofthetree, whereofIcommandedtheethatthoushouldestnot eat?And themansaid,Thewomanwhomthougavesttobewithme, shegavemeofthetree,andI dideat.AndtheLordGod saiduntothewoman,Whatisthisthatthouhastdone?And thewoman said,Theserpentbeguiledme,andIdideat. AndtheLordGodsaiduntotheserpent,Becausethou hast donethis,thouartcursedaboveallcattle,andaboveevery beastofthefield;uponthybelly shaltthou go,anddustshalt thoueatallthedaysofthylife:andIwillputenmitybetween theeand thewoman,andbetweenthyseedandherseed;it shallbruisethyhead,andthoushaltbruisehis heel.And untoAdamhesaid,Becausethouhasthearkeneduntothe voiceofthywife,andhast eatenofthetree,ofwhichI commandedthee,saying,Thoushaltnoteatofit:cursedis theground forthysake;insorrowshaltthoueatofitallthe daysofthylife;thornsalsoandthistlesshallitbring forth tothee; andthoushalteattheherbofthefield;inthesweat ofthyfaceshaltthoueatbread, tillthoureturnuntothe ground;foroutofitwastthoutaken;fordustthouart,and untodustshalt thoureturn. ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
In theBookofGenesis,thefirstbookoftheBible,wearetoldhowtheuniverseandeverythinginit cameintobeing, including thecreationofhumanbeings. Thefirsthumans,AdamandEve,aregiven

a perfectworldbyGod,buttoldthatwhiletheycaneatanythingtheywant,theymust noteatthe fruitofaparticulartree.TheserpenttricksEvebysuggestingthatsheshouldeatthefruitandnot listentoGod,andshedoesso.Whenthishappens,AdamandEvearefilledwithnewanddifficult knowledge;theyrealisetheyarenakedandcoverthemselvesupandtheyalsofeelashamedbefore Godandhavelosttheirperfectrelationshipwithhim.ThispassagepicksupwhereAdamandEve explainwhathashappenedandreceiveGodsjudgement uponthemfordisobeyinghim.Thestory tellsushowsin andevil cameintotheworld andhowitdamagesanddestroysit.Italsoexplains whyhumanlifeisasitistodayinsteadofbeingaperfectworld,aparadise.Thepointofstartingthe readings with thisoneaboutAdamandEve istoprepareustounderstandthat Godsenthisown Son Jesus intotheworldtoundotheseparationbetweenhumanbeingsandGodbroughtaboutby sin.ThroughJesusthereisawaybacktoaperfectrelationshipwithGod.Socarolsareoftensung aboutJesusasthe secondAdam whorestoresthingsbacktothewayGodintended.

Secondreading
GodpromisestofaithfulAbraham thatinhis seedshallallthenationsoftheearthbe blessed. GENESIS 22 AND theangeloftheLORD calleduntoAbrahamoutof heaventhesecondtime,andsaid,Bymyself haveI sworn,saiththeLORD,forbecausethouhastdone thisthing,andhastnotwithheldthyson, thineonlyson:that inblessingIwillblessthee,andinmultiplyingIwillmultiply thyseedasthestars oftheheaven,andasthesandwhichis upontheseashore;andthyseedshallpossessthegateof his enemies;andinthyseedshallallthenationsoftheearthbe blessed;becausethouhastobeyed myvoice. ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
InthisreadingwehearabouttheHebrewpatriarchAbraham.Thebackgroundforthisreadingisa testGodputbeforeAbrahamaskinghimtosacrificehissonIsaac.Isaacwasthemostpreciousthing intheworldtoAbraham,buthedidnotwanttodisobeywhatGodaskedofhim. Because Abraham wasobedientanddidnotputhisownwantsfirst,GodsparedIsaacandtold Abrahamthathewould beblessedandbecomethefounderofagreatnation.Sobeingwillingtoloseeverything,Abraham gainedawonderfulfutureforhispeople.ThisreadingischosenbecauseitforeshadowswhatGod himselfdidinsendingJesus. Jesuscomesintotheworldtobeasacrificeforalltheevilandsinthatis intheworld. Because hedidthis,humanbeingscanagainbeinrightrelationshipwithGodandhave thewonderful future withGodthathewantsforus.

ThirdReading
Theprophetforetellsthecomingofthe Saviour. ISAIAH 9 THE peoplethatwalkedindarknesshaveseenagreat light:theythatdwell inthelandofthe shadowofdeath, uponthemhaththelightshined.Foruntousa childisborn,untousasonisgiven: andthegovernment shallbeuponhisshoulder:andhisnameshallbecalled Wonderful,Counsellor, ThemightyGod,Theeverlasting Father,ThePrinceofPeace.Oftheincreaseofhisgovernment

andpeacethereshallbenoend,uponthethroneof David,anduponhiskingdom,toorderit,andto establish itwithjudgmentandwithjusticefromhenceforthevenfor ever.ThezealoftheLordof hostswillperformthis. ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
Inthisreading,theprophetIsaiahtellsofawonderfulSavioursentbyGodtobringasuffering peoplefromdarknesstolight.Isaiahseesitasachildbeingborn,ason,whowillbringpeace and justicetotheworld. Thewriterofthispassage livedlongbeforeJesus,andhisideaswereshapedby the historyofthe sufferingofthepeopleofIsrael,buthiswordsarepropheticofwhatGoddidin Jesusand applytohowwecanthinkofhiscomingintotheworld.

FourthReading
ThepeacethatChristwillbringis foreshown. ISAIAH 11 AND thereshallcomefortharodoutofthestemofJesse, andabranchshallgrowoutofhisroots: andthespirit oftheLORD shallrestuponhim,the spiritof wisdomandunderstanding,thespiritof counselandmight, thespiritofknowledgeandofthefearoftheLORD;and shallmakehimofquick understandinginthefearofthe LORD.Withrighteousnessshallhejudgethepoor,and reprovewith equity forthemeekoftheearth.Thewolfalso shalldwellwiththelamb,andtheleopardshalllie downwith thekid;andthecalfandtheyounglionandthefatling together;andalittlechildshall leadthem.Andthecowand thebearshallfeed;theiryoungonesshallliedowntogether: andthelionshalleatstrawliketheox.Andthesuckingchild shallplayontheholeoftheasp,and theweanedchildshall puthishandonthecockatrice den.Theyshallnothurtnor destroyinallmy holymountain:fortheearthshallbefull oftheknowledgeoftheLORD,asthewaterscoverthesea. ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
Asinthepreviousreading, theprophetimaginesapersonemergingfromthepeopleofIsraelwho will transform thecommunity.ThatpersonwillbeclosetoGodandbringjusticeandequalityforthe peopleofGod.Sotherewillbenomorewaranddestruction:theprophetgivesusapictureofwhat thatwillbelikebyimaginingpredatoranimalsandprey existing togetherwithoutharmingeach other.Nothingwill causedamageorhurtanymore because theworldwillbeasGodintendedit. ThispassageischosenasadescriptionoftheworldJesusmakespossible,ifwebelieveinhimand liveaccordingtoGodswill.

FifthReading

TheangelGabrielsalutestheBlessed VirginMary. STLUKE 1 AND inthesixthmonththeangelGabrielwassentfrom Goduntoa cityofGalilee,namedNazareth, toa virginespousedtoamanwhosenamewasJoseph, ofthehouseofDavid;andthevirginsname wasMary.And theangelcameinuntoher,andsaid,Hail,thouthatart highlyfavoured,theLordis withthee:blessedart thou amongwomen.Andwhenshesawhim,shewastroubledat hissaying, andcastinhermindwhatmannerofsalutation thisshouldbe.Andtheangelsaiduntoher,Fear not,Mary: forthouhastfoundfavourwithGod.And,behold,thou shaltconceiveinthy womb,and bringforthason,andshalt callhisnameJesus.Heshallbegreat,andshallbecalledthe Sonofthe Highest:andtheLordGodshallgiveuntohim thethroneofhisfatherDavid:andheshallreignover the houseofJacobforever;andofhis kingdomthereshallbe noend.ThensaidMaryuntothe angel,Howshallthisbe, seeingIknownotaman?Andtheangelansweredandsaid untoher,The HolyGhostshallcomeuponthee,andthe poweroftheHighestshallovershadowthee:therefore also thatholythingwhichshallbebornoftheeshallbecalled theSonofGod.AndMarysaid,Behold thehandmaidof theLord;beituntomeaccordingtothyword.Andtheangel departedfromher. ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
HavingpreparedustohearaboutJesus birth,thepassagesnowmoveintooneabouthowthe VirginMarywaschosentobeJesus mother.Wearetoldthatanangel,Godsmessenger,cameto Mary,ayoungwomanengagedtoamancalledJoseph, andtoldherthatshehadfoundspecial favourwithGod.Becauseofthis,Godaskedhertoconceiveachild,ason,Jesus,whohasaunique destinyastheSonofGod.Maryaskshowthisis supposed tohappensincesheisavirgin,butthe angelsaysthatGodwillmakeitpossible.Marystillhastoagree,however.MaryobeyswhatGod asksofherandsaysthatshewillbecomeJesus mother.

SixthReading
StLuketellsofthebirthofJesus. STLUKE 2 AND itcametopassinthosedays,thattherewentout adecreefromCsarAugustus,thatallthe world shouldbetaxed.Andallwenttobetaxed,everyone intohisowncity.AndJosephalsowent upfromGalilee,out ofthecityofNazareth,intoJuda, untothecityofDavid, whichiscalled Bethlehem;(becausehewasofthehouseand lineageofDavid:)tobetaxedwithMaryhisespoused wife, beinggreatwithchild.Andsoitwas,that,whiletheywere there,thedayswereaccomplished thatsheshouldbe delivered.Andshebroughtforthherfirstbornson,and wrappedhiminswaddling clothes,andlaidhiminamanger; becausetherewasnoroomforthemintheinn. Thanksbe toGod

Whatsgoingon?

ThistellsusabouttheactualbirthofJesus.StLukesetsthebirthinthemiddleofacensus, explaininghowJesus(whosefamilycamefromNazareth)endedupbeingborninBethlehem.Joseph takeshispregnantwifeMaryto Bethlehem tocomplywiththeRomanEmperorsruling (Israelwas occupiedbytheRomansatthistime) andduringthisprocessMarygoesintolabourandgivesbirth toJesus.Becauseofthelargenumbersofpeoplecomingtothetownobeyingtheorder,theinnsare fullandsoMaryhastogivebirthinastable,orperhapsacaveinthe vicinity andJesusiswrapped upandplacedtosleepinafeedingtroughfortheanimals.TheSonofGodisborn,nottorichesand honour,butintopovertyandsqualour.

SeventhReading
Theshepherdsgotothemanger. STLUKE 2 AND therewereinthesamecountryshepherdsabiding inthefield,keepingwatchovertheirflock bynight. And,lo,theangeloftheLordcameuponthem, andthegloryoftheLordshoneround aboutthem:andthey weresoreafraid.Andtheangelsaiduntothem,Fearnot: for,behold,Ibring yougoodtidingsofgreatjoy,whichshall betoallpeople.Foruntoyouisbornthisdayinthecityof DavidaSaviour,whichisChristtheLord.Andthisshallbe asignuntoyou;Yeshallfindthebabe wrappedinswaddling clothes,lyinginamanger.Andsuddenlytherewaswiththe angelamultitude oftheheavenlyhostpraisingGod,and saying,GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeace, goodwilltowardmen. Anditcametopass,astheangels weregoneawayfromthemintoheaven, theshepherdssaid onetoanother,LetusnowgoevenuntoBethlehem,and seethisthingwhichis cometopass,whichtheLordhath madeknownuntous.Andtheycamewithhaste,and found Mary,andJoseph,andthebabelyinginamanger. Thanksbe toGod

Whatsgoingon?
In anotherpart ofthesamestory,themessengerangelofGodvisitssomeshepherdsoutin the hillsidesandtellsthemthatJesushasbeenborn.Theyarenotspecial,butordinarypeople,butthe messagetothemistobehappybecauseJesushascometobeaSaviourforpeoplejustlikethem. Theangeltellsthemthattheycanseethisforthemselves,byfindinganewbornbaby,notina house,orsomelovelypalace, butinamangerfortheanimals.Theshepherdsgo toseeifwhatthe angelsaidis true,andsotheyfindMaryandJosephandJesus,whoisindeedlyinginamanger.

EighthReading
Thewisemenareledbythestarto Jesus. STMATTHEW 2 NOW whenJesuswasborninBethlehemofJudain thedaysofHerodtheking,behold,therecame wise menfromtheeasttoJerusalem,saying,Whereis hethatisbornKingoftheJews?forwehave seenhisstarin theeast,andarecometoworshiphim.WhenHerodtheking hadheardthesethings, hewastroubled,andallJerusalem withhim.Andwhenhehadgatheredallthechiefpriestsand scribesofthepeopletogether,hedemandedofthemwhere Christshouldbeborn.Andtheysaid untohim,In BethlehemofJuda:forthusitiswrittenbytheprophet, AndthouBethlehem,inthe landofJuda,artnottheleast amongtheprincesofJuda:for outoftheeshallcomea Governor,that shallrulemypeopleIsrael.ThenHerod, whenhehadprivilycalledthewisemen,inquiredofthem

diligentlywhattimethestarappeared.Andhesentthemto Bethlehem,andsaid,Goandsearch diligentlyfortheyoung child;andwhenyehavefoundhim,bringmewordagain, thatImaycome andworshiphimalso.Whentheyhadheard theking,theydeparted;andlo,thestar,whichthey sawin theeast,wentbeforethem,tillitcameandstoodoverwhere theyoungchildwas.When theysawthestar,theyrejoiced withexceedinggreatjoy.Andwhentheywerecomeintothe house,theysawtheyoungchildwithMaryhismother,and felldown,andworshippedhim:and whentheyhadopened theirtreasures,theypresenteduntohimgifts,gold,and frankincense,and myrrh.AndbeingwarnedofGodina dreamthattheyshouldnotreturntoHerod,theydeparted intotheirowncountryanotherway. ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
Thispassage,fromadifferentgospel,StMatthew,tellsusaboutadifferentgroupofpeoplewho heardthegoodnewsaboutJesus birth.Inthiscase,some wisemen whowereprobably foreign starwatchers,lookingforsignsinthenightsky,cametoKingHerod,thelocal governor,asking aboutanew KingofJews thattheyhadheardabout. Theywerefollowingastarinthenightsky whichtheyunderstoodtobeasign. Herodwasupsetbythisnews,thinkingtheyweretalkingabout someonewhowasgoingtooverthrowhim andhewantedtoknowwherethis king wasgoingtobe born.ThewisementellhimthathewillbeborninBethlehemtofulfila sayingbytheprophetIsaiah. Herodtellsthewisementogoandfindthechildandthentellhimwheretofindhim.Hesayshewill comeandworshipthenewbornKing,butofcoursehehasnointentionofdoinganythingofthe kind.Thewisemen,liketheshepherds,findJesus,andofferhimsymbolicgifts:gold,frankincense andmyrrh,whichstandforkingship,holinessandsacrifice.Whentheyleave,theyarewarnedthat theyshouldnotgobacktoHerodandtellhimwheretheyfoundJesusandsotheygohomeby anotherroute.

NinthReading
StJohnunfoldsthegreatmysteryofthe Incarnation. ST JOHN 1 IN thebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswith God,andtheWordwasGod.Thesamewas inthebeginning withGod.Allthingsweremadebyhim;and withouthimwasnotanythingmade thatwasmade.Inhim waslife;andthelifewasthelightof men.Andthelight shinethindarkness; andthedarknesscomprehendeditnot. TherewasamansentfromGod,whosenamewasJohn.The samecameforawitness,tobearwitnessofthelight,thatall menthroughhimmightbelieve.He wasnotthatlight,but wassenttobearwitnessofthatlight.Thatwasthetruelight, whichlighteth everymanthatcomethintotheworld.He wasintheworld,andtheworldwasmadebyhim,and the worldknewhimnot.Hecameuntohisown,andhisown receivedhimnot.Butas manyas receivedhim,tothemgave hepowertobecomethesonsofGod,eventothemthat believeonhisname:whowereborn,notofblood,norofthe willoftheflesh,norofthewillofman, butofGod.Andthe Wordwasmadeflesh,anddweltamongus,andwebeheld hisglory,theglory asoftheonlybegottenoftheFather,full ofgraceandtruth.

ThanksbetoGod.

Whatsgoingon?
Theninelessonsendwiththemostbeautifulanddifficultofallthereadingsaboutthecomingof Jesusintotheworld.Thistime thepassagecomes fromtheopening ofStJohnsgospel.StJohndoes nottellusaboutMary, Joseph and thebabyJesus,butaboutakindofGodseyeviewofthe Incarnation, GodbecomingahumanbeinginthepersonofJesus. St John tellsthat heisawitness towhoJesusreallyisandthathistaskistoexplainitsothatpeoplecanbelieveinJesus,notassome prophetormiracleworker,but astheSonofGod. HestartsbytellingusthatJesuswaswithGod throughalleternity,ofGodsbeing.HespeaksofJesusasthe Word. SoJesusisGodandhasexisted asGodthroughouteternityandisonewiththecreativepowerofGodwhichbroughteverythingin theuniverseintobeing. HethenpresentsJesusasthelightofGod,lightingupthetruthandgetting rid ofthe darknessofignoranceandwrongdoing.Yet,saysStJohn, eventhoughJesuswassentfrom God,hewasnotrecognised andbelievedinbyeveryone,butthosewhodidbelieve andbecamehis disciples,foundawaytobereconciledwithGodand bornagain aschildrenofGod.So,StJohn concludes,theeternal Word ofGodbecameahumanbeing,Jesus.Hewasarealperson,helived amongrealpeopleandthosewhomet andfollowed him throughouthis lifewere convinced beyond anypossibledoubt thathewas trulyGod cometobeamanandexperiencewhatitisliketobea humanbeing. Thispassagesummarisestheessentialgospel,thegoodnewsofwhoJesusis, and doessointheformofatestimonythat asksustodecidewhatwe too believe aboutwhoJesusis.

Sothesereadingsofferdifferentkindsofperspectives ontheChristmasstory:avisionofwhatGod willdotosavehispeople; astoryabouthowGodasksa particular womantobepartofhisplanto bringsalvationtotheworld; astoryabouta birth,notintoriches,butpoverty; witnesseswhofinda babyinamanger;abackgroundoffearandsuspicionthatthechildisausurperandwillbring revolution;andfinally,a promisethatthosewhoknewJesusandlivedalongsidehim,were completelysure beyonddoubt thatJesuswasGodbornasa humanbeing,cometosavehispeople inperson,andtobringusalleternallifewithGod,asGodintendedfromthebeginning.