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Was this the First Cantata?

The first historically recorded Cantata was written by Bach in 1707 and performed the next year in 1708. Did the historians miss the date by 1700 years? Last Wednesday, I used a passage from Luke 2 and spoke for a short time about the shepherds being the first to witness the Messiah being born in the Shepherd Fields of Bethlehem. I touched on the Angel of the Lord and then a multitude of angels praising God that first Christmas night. We will look at this passage again today, so if you want to grab your Bible we can look together.

What is the definition of a Cantata? I have heard that word my whole life and specifically during the Christmas season. I knew it had to do with music, and I knew it was much more than sitting around a campfire plunking on a six string, so early this morning I looked up the definition. It is a musical composition, usually sacred texts, and has recitations, arias and choruses with the rise of music. I also had to look up recitations and arias. A recitation allows for a style of delivery so the speaker can adopt the rhythm while speaking. It is ordinary speaking with or without music. An arias is a special song from one voice. Think soloist. Keep those things in your mind as you mediate on our scripture.

Luke 2:9-14, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Let’s cherry pick some of the parts of this famous Christmas passage.

The Angel of the Lord is the spokesman. 2:9-10. This “special” angel is the one setting the tone with his recitation. (Think Bill Shuford speaking.) I practiced this in my mind several times in the past few days, visualizing how this would have happened. He walks out into the stage of the heavens, hovering over the shepherds that glorious night, and begins “Fear not: for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” That’s how this first cantata begins. Remember a recitation can be with or without music. I personally like to think some background music begins softly as this angel is starting his speech. He begins to get a little louder and his words begin to get a little quicker. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” The shepherds, men that are watchers and very observant, notice this in his voice. They sense the uptick in the volume and pace of the words. The increasing pace of his speech finally hits a crescendo when he says, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” The shepherd’s minds are racing now as they listen, hanging on to each word and in those words their hearts are stirred to obey. What began as a silent night in Bethlehem has now brought them to a place where they are to go find the Messiah who is close by. Only a few moments earlier they were disturbed and then scared by this angel hovering. They are then comforted to learn they aren’t about to die and now they are receiving the news that lowly shepherds are told to go find the Christ child.

Thinking this just can’t be happening, their hearts are swelling in their chests, a flash of light, and this angel is no longer reciting. That music that has been building in the background is now loud, clear, and compelling. A heavenly choir (think the church choir) is suddenly visible. Arias time has now arrived in the sky. Testimonies begin one by one praising God. “Praise the Lord.” “Hallelujah” “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord.” The angelic choir director (think Bro. Keith) has been pointing to each of the testifiers and now every single angel is laser focused and in one glorious split second they begin singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The lowly shepherds of Bethlehem have the blessed privilege of hearing the heavenly cantata and the divine message. They are now included in the story and prompted to act.

When that curtain closed, these men were ready to obey. 2:15 says “And it came to pass” meaning that a certain amount of time had elapsed. We aren’t told how long the cantata lasted, but finally it came to an end and the angels disappeared back into their celestial domain leaving the shepherds eager to go and find the baby. 2:16 tells us, “And they (shepherds) came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.”

So, what do you think? Could this special historical event we read, especially at Christmas, be the first Cantata? May be the more important question is this. Will we be as obedient as the shepherds? The portion of the message the Angel of the Lord shared said, “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” The Gospel is “good tidings,” good news, to all people that will put their faith in the Lord Jesus. How will they know about this news except a shepherd, you, and me, tell them?