I’ve been doing a little research this morning about something that is said to have happened back in 1870 on Christmas Eve.  I’ve only been able to find a few references to the event.  Josh Weidmann has come to this conclusion about the event: “No one is really sure if this event actually happened, but there is enough evidence to piece together a story and believe something like this did once occur.”

What is said to have happened on Christmas Eve in 1870?

Here is the account that Weidmann shared with a few additional details from www.historybecauseitshere.com:

“On Christmas Eve in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, an intense battle was taking place between French and German soldiers.  Suddenly, a French soldier jumped from the trenches, exposing himself to the enemy’s fire.

Before either side could figure out what to do, he began singing Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night in English).  Each side stood frozen as he sang of the birth of the Messiah.  As the last chords of his solo faded into the night, a German soldier emerged from his hideout and began to sing Vom Himmel Hoch da komm icher (From Heaven Above to Earth I Come), a popular Christmas carol in Germany.  Both sides apparently joined together to sing an Austrian carol, and fighting ceased for the following 24 hours.” *

Was this a tradition or a legend, or did it actually happen?

I don’t know.

I want to change the questions.  Could something like this happen?  Could two warring factions experience peace?  Could two opposing groups or individuals unite in something held in common?

I believe the answer is “Yes!”  I also believe that there is only one way this kind of peace could occur and endure.

The key is to find unity and peace in Christ.  If it is true that the legend about the ceasefire in the Franco-Prussian War on Christmas Eve in 1870 did occur, it provides a glimpse of what can actually happen when people unite and enjoy peace because of their common faith in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul wrote about how two opposing factions (Jews and Gentiles) could experience peace:  “For He Himself [Jesus] is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation … so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

God reconciles to Himself and gives eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He continues to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “A Night of Peace on Christmas Eve, 1870: A ‘O Holy Night’ Story” by Josh Weidmann, www.joshweidmann.com and “Carols ‘Silent Night’ and ‘O Holy Night’ Combine Fact and Tradition for a Message of Hope” by Joseph Mohr on www.historybecauseitshere.com.

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David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org