"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place." (Luke 2:1-7 Holman Christian Version of the Bible/The Message Paraphrase parallel)
And so it begins. Welcome to another Tuesday. But this is no ordinary "another" Tuesday!
It's the Tuesday before Christmas and all through the land, the people were wondering just what was the plan. The blog they awaited was always a guess, so they waited and waited to see what was best. The music and merriment they expected with cheer, but what was the song, how they waited, oh dear! And then with a click it was time, it was here! The artists and album, the day and the year. "How far up the charts?" they wondered with glee. A video, or two, they were eager to see. So Tuesday is here, happy you, happy me! It's Christmas week Tuesday, here we go...one.two..three...!!!
"In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth to people He favors!"
When
the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to
one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened,
which the Lord has made known to us.”They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told." (Luke 2:8-24 HCSB/The Message)
"Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy" - David Bowie and Bing Crosby from the 1977 Christmas Special "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas"
He
had been hosting an annual Christmas special, which began as a radio
broadcast, since 1936. He transitioned to an annual television
broadcast during the Christmas of 1961. The variety show would include
some of music and Hollywood's biggest names appearing with Bing Crosby
and his family singing Christmas classics and usually telling a story. A
generation of fans watched as Bing welcomed wife Kathyrn, and children
Harry, Mary, Frances, and Nathaniel to the show beginning in 1968 and
saw the children grow up as the specials occurred through Christmas of
1977. (For a complete list of the Bing Crosby Christmas Specials just
click here: "Bing Crosby's Christmas Specials" - stevelewis.info)
The above video with David Bowie is from the 1977 Christmas Special. Bing had recorded the program in
London with special guests, Bowie and Twiggy, 5 weeks prior to his
death in October. The special first aired in November of that same
year. "Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy" was written especially
for the show. The "Peace On Earth" counterpoint was written to satisfy
Bowie who was not a fan of perennial favorite "The Little Drummer Boy".
For a complete flashback to Christmas Past, watch the entire show: "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas" - 1977 CBS
Many at the time wondered at the combination of the 30 year old Ziggy Stardust with the septuagenarian Bing. The youtube channel watchmojo solidifies this curiosity by naming the pairing of Bowie/Crosby #1 on its countdown of "Top Ten Unlikely Musical Collaborations" - watchmojo.com
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the leaders of Judah:
because out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd My people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He
sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the
child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and
worship Him.”are by no means least among the leaders of Judah:
because out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd My people Israel.”
After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route." (Matthew 2:1-11 HCSB/The Message)
Originally
titled "Carol Of The Drum", the first recording of "Little Drummer Boy"
would be by the Trapp Family Singers. Yes, "the hills are alive"
Trapps. The 1955 recording would be on their last album prior to
retirement and introduce the song to the world. It would be recorded in
1958 by the Harry Simone Chorale, which would become the most well
known, as well as most covered (over 220 versions in 7 languages),
version of the song. The single would soar up the seasonal charts from
1958-1962 and establish it as a classic of the Christmas genre.
Many
criticize the carol as not having a Biblical base. Angels, shepherds,
wise men, Joseph, Mary, and the animals are all mentioned in the Bible
narrative at the point where glory pierced the darkness of the fallen
world and defeated the enemy once and for all. Even the Kings, while not necessarily 3, are mentioned, there is no reference to little boy who
happens along and worships Jesus by doing what he knows how to
do...playing a probably handmade, skin and wood, ancient drum, in a
rhythmic pattern that only a boy, and perhaps his Savior, could enjoy.
The Bible doesn't record his existence
It doesn't take too much of an imagination to understand that the "stargazers" from the east would have been wealthy. Most "kings" of their regions would never have traveled alone. They would have employed a caravan of folks and supplies to see to their needs as they traveled. As a part of this caravan, one could easily imagine a young boy being a "squire", so to speak, to one of the scholars as an attendant on their journey. After such a long pilgrimage, seeing Jesus as approximately a 2 year old child, chances are that in their excitement at having arrived where they were led by the star that they would share this with the entirety of their party. We honestly don't know. John tells us that many things about Jesus were not written down. John 21:24-25 HCSB/The Message.
The tale of the Little Drummer Boy does make a great story and is emblematic of how we are to approach Jesus. We come to Him with a childlike faith, bringing him the very best that we can with what He has given us, and lay it at His feet, or play it while He claps along. pa rum pa pum pum...
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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