Silent Night, Holy Night

1. Silent Night, Holy Night Luke 2:8

2. Luke 2:8 • And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

3. "Silent Night!" was created and first performed during very difficult times. The Napoleonic wars (1792-1815), which had caused great suffering, had come to an end. With the Congress of Vienna there were new borders and a new order set for Europe. In the course of these events, the ecclesiastical Principality of Salzburg lost its status as an independent country and was forced to secularize. In 1816, its lands were divided in two with part assigned to Bavaria and the larger portion relegated to Austria.

4. The site where "Silent Night!" was first performed - Oberndorf by Salzburg - had been a suburb and was now separated from its town center of Laufen located across the river (today part of Bavaria, Germany) when the Salzach River became the new border. For centuries transportation of salt along the river had provided the basis for the local economy. The salt trade declined during the Napoleonic wars, and then never fully recovered. This caused a depression in the local economy, with the transport companies, boat builders and laborers facing unemployment and an unsure future. It was during these troubled times that Mohr was in Oberndorf (1817-1819).

5. Silent night, holy night, • All is calm all is bright, • 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child, • Holy infant so tender and mild, • Sleep in heavenly peace. • Sleep in heavenly peace.

6. Silent night, holy night, • Son of God, love's pure light. • Radiant beams from Thy holy face, • With the dawn of redeeming grace, • Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth; • Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

7. Silent night, holy night, • Here at last, healing light, • From the heavenly kingdom sent, • Abundant grace for our intent. • Jesus, salvation for all. • Jesus, salvation for all.

8. Silent night, holy night, • Sleeps the world in peace tonight. • God sends his Son to earth below, • A Child from whom all blessings flow. • Jesus embraces mankind. • Jesus embraces mankind.

9. Silent night, holy night, • Mindful of mankind's plight, • The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed, • From earthly woes we would be freed. • Jesus, God's promise for peace. • Jesus, God's promise for peace.

10. Silent night, holy night, • Shepherds quake at the sight. • Glories stream from heaven afar, • Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia; • Christ the Savior is born. • Christ the Savior is born.

11. Mohr's previous place of service, Mariapfarr, had suffered greatly during the withdrawal of the Bavarian occupation troops in 1816 and 1817. Mohr was witness to these events and in 1816, he wrote the words to "Silent Night!"

12. Silent night, holy night, • Mindful of mankind's plight, • The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed, • From earthly woes we would be freed. • Jesus, God's promise for peace. • Jesus, God's promise for peace.

13. Good News • The Gospel addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings.

14. The Problem • God is holy and He is just, • and we are not.

15. I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged on the basis • of my own righteousness or • lack of it – or • the righteousness of another.

16. 1 Peter 1:15 • …as he who called you is holy, you also be holy…

17. The Good news of the Gospel • Jesus lived a life of • perfect righteousness • perfect holiness • perfect obedience to God • not for His own well being but for the well being of His people.

18. He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice • to satisfy the • justice and the righteousness of God.

19. We are justified • not by our works, • not by our efforts, • not by our deeds, • but by faith alone.

20. When you put your trust in Him • you’re declared just by God • you’re adopted into His family • you’re forgiven of all of your sins • you begin your pilgrimage for eternity

21. Silent Night, Holy Night Luke 2:8