“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). These words penned two millennia ago by the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) reflect one of the greatest assurances in the Christian life; that the darkness of a fallen world will not prevail against the light of redemption. This is the assurance reflected in the Christmas hymn, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” The full lyrics of this beautiful Christian rallying cry are as follows:
Now, the song’s title may lead you to believe the song is reciting something like “may God keep you still, joyful gentlemen”. However, this song was written many centuries ago in Old English. Moreover, the original song was titled with the comma being placed after the word “merry.” So, it was written: God rest you merry, gentlemen. Considering this, it can be seen that the song is actually essentially saying, “God keep you mighty, gentlemen.” While the presumptuous meaning can certainly be appreciated, the historical meaning captures the true purpose behind the lyrics. Christians can find their might in the fact that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot comprehend it (John 1:5). May we recite this song with joy this Christmas, and may our faith be strengthened as we reflect on the true and glorious meaning of Christmas. God keep you mighty, Christian.
