November 28
The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child
TEXT: Thomas H. Troeger
b. 1945
Thomas Troeger is ordained in both the Episcopal and the Presbyterian churches and is professor emeritus at Yale Divinity School. A poet of many hymns and a flutist, he has served as the national chaplain of the American Guild of Organists. Troeger has written twenty books on hymnody and worship, preaching, and poetry, including Wonder Reborn: Preaching on Hymns, Music, and Poetry. The craftsmanship of a professional poet is clearly evident in this rare accounting of the earthly father of Jesus. John Greenleaf Whittier once said, “A good hymn is the best use to which poetry can be devoted.”9
TUNE: Traditional English Folk Tune
Arranged, Ralph Vaughan Williams
b. October 12, 1872, Gloucestershire, England
d. August 26, 1958, London, England
Ralph Vaughan Williams started collecting folk songs in 1903 by going into the English countryside, noting down, and transcribing songs traditionally sung in various locations. He named this tune KINGSFOLD and used it in hymnody. Many of these tunes are also found throughout his nine symphonies and hundreds of other compositions. To connect the two hymn texts about Mary and Joseph, we chose to employ the same tune for both carols.
As you sing this hymn … you are singing one of the only Christmas hymns that mentions Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. We know little about Joseph. We know he was a carpenter because Matthew and Mark both refer to the amazement people had at Jesus’ wisdom and teaching when He was “a carpenter’s son.” Read “Christmas in the Bible,” #9–12, to be reminded of Joseph’s extraordinary trust and obedience at the angel’s words.
Scripture testifies that Joseph was devoted to Mary and was concerned for her comfort, privacy, and safety. “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matt. 1:19 NIV). Once an angel appears and explains it to him, there is no indication of doubt in Joseph’s mind that this newborn was sent by God and was the Son of God: “He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him” (v. 24 NIV). The poet’s imagination then links his care for Mary to his handling of the newborn infant.
The prophet Isaiah had already revealed Immanuel as a name for this baby, and Matthew defines that name as “God with us” (v. 23). Yet the angel told Joseph the child should have a second name: Jesus, which means, “God saves.” J. C. Ryle helped us understand the significance of the name when he wrote, “He, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, might lawfully have taken some more high-sounding title. But He does not do so. The rulers of this world have often called themselves great, conquerors, bold, magnificent, and the like. The Son of God is content to call Himself, Savior.”10
What awful irony that the tools of Joseph’s profession were used to crucify his son. We too can use the tools and skills God gives us for good or evil. In the final line, Troeger implores us to hold the child and be charged with faith. Let us be obedient like Joseph, even if we don’t understand a call from God.