12 Days of Christmas
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday
we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is
symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy
predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's
sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would
I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not
have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation
in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1
Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the
Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the
Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5)
Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's
response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the
world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching,
4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1
Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who
mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the
merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted
for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4)
patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control.
(Galatians 5:22)
On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten Lords A-leaping
The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not
make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5)
Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do
not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4)
John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus,
10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list
does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the
Romans.
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's
Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and
earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into
hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge
the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic
Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the
resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.
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