December 9, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Friday, December 9.
Phillips Brooks was a giant of a man - six foot six, 300 pounds. In 1865 he was the 29-year-old pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia and he was considered one of the finest preachers in America. He delivered a sermon at Abraham Lincoln's funeral. But, more than anything else, Phillips Brooks enjoyed being a pastor and was never happier than when he sat cross legged on the floor of a children's Sunday School room at his church, letting the laughing kids crawl all over him! But the stress of taking his church through the years of the Civil War had taken a toll on this young pastor. Being a shepherd during times of crisis can do that to a man.
At the end of 1865 the leaders of Brooks' church urged him to take a break and he decided to journey to the Holy Land. On Christmas Eve of that year, he found himself in Jerusalem and decided, at the spur of the moment, to ride on horseback to Bethlehem. It's only six miles away. At dusk he came over a hill, and there, laid out before him, was the little town - looking much as it did on that first Christmas night. It was a moment that took his breath away, a moment that he would never forget. On returning to Philadelphia he was inspired to write a Christmas poem for the children of his church. He asked his organist to fashion a tune for it and O Little Town of Bethlehem has gone on to become one of our favorite American carols.
Bethlehem today looks nothing like it did in the 1st century. When you drive there from Jerusalem you must pass through military check points and the city is surrounded by a 20-foot wall. It gives the appearance of an armed camp, it looks very much like a prison. The angel's message to the shepherds - peace on earth - can only faintly be heard there now. But when we sing Phillips Brooks carol, the little song that he wrote for the children of his church, it gives us a look at what Bethlehem was 2000 years ago. And it gives us a glimmer of hope for the days to come.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight
O Holy Child of Bethlehem descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!
Meet you back here on Monday,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
You can visit Old Bethlehem this Christmas in Center, Texas. First Baptist welcomes you this Saturday and Sunday beginning at 6pm and continuing through 7:45. It's free. It's unique. It's entertaining. It's inspiring. Join us!
