Photo by Anuja Tilj
A founding member of the Square Peg Alliance, a group of musicians who are “really like each other”, Andrew Peterson has been active since 1996. This folk rock, roots rock, and country gospel musician released a whopping 19 albums, including Love and Thunder (2003), Counting Stars (2010), and The Burning Edge of Dawn (2015).
He also published several books, including The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats (2007) and The Wingfeather Saga, a series of four books released between 2008 and 2015. He won the Christie Award for Young Adult Fiction in 2009 for his second book of this series, North! Or Be Eaten (2009).
Also, check out my review of Is He Worthy?.
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1. What message does the song communicate?
This song is a retelling of significant events in Matthew 1 and Luke 2. Specifically, Joseph and Mary come to Jerusalem, traditionally on a donkey (more on that in section 2), and register there because that is Joseph’s ancestrial birthplace. Though Joseph sought to divorce Mary, an angel of the Lord convinced him that Mary was fulfilling a prophecy concerning the virgin who would be with child, that what she conceived was from the Holy Spirit, and that his Son would be called “God with us”.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it either agrees with the Bible or contains reasonable assertions that aren’t directly in God’s Word but are supported indirectly.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
It came to pass back in those days that Caesar, he decreed
A census would be taken of the Roman world, you see
Borrows from Luke 2:1.
So everyone packed up and headed back to their home towns
This is based on Luke 2:3.
And this couple up from Galilee to Bethlehem was bound
That is, Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:4-5).
[Verse 2]
So it came to pass this man named Joe was with his fiance
Back when her pregnancy began to show he planned to go away
But it came to pass that in a dream an angel of the Lord
Said, “Joseph, don’t you be afraid to marry Mary for
The little baby in her womb it is the Holy Spirit’s work
You may have read the prophet said a virgin would give birth
This is based on Matthew 1:18-24. The specific prophecy mentioned in Matthew 1:23 is in Isaiah 7:14. It is also accurate that they were not married on their trek because it wasn’t until after Mary gave birth to Jesus that Joseph wed her (Matthew 1:25).
[Verse 3]
So it came to pass that Joseph was the noblest of men
With a woman on a donkey on their way to Bethlehem
While there is no mention of animal transportation in Luke 2:4-5, this tradition stems back as far as AD 145. According to Protoevangelium of James:17 (emphasis mine):
And there was an order from the Emperor Augustus, that all in Bethlehem of Judaea should be enrolled. And Joseph said: I shall enrol my sons, but what shall I do with this maiden? How shall I enrol her? As my wife? I am ashamed. As my daughter then? But all the sons of Israel know that she is not my daughter. The day of the Lord shall itself bring it to pass as the Lord will. And he saddled the [donkey], and set her upon it; and his son led it, and Joseph followed. And when they had come within three miles, Joseph turned and saw her sorrowful; and he said to himself: Likely that which is in her distresses her. And again Joseph turned and saw her laughing. And he said to her: Mary, how is it that I see in thy face at one time laughter, at another sorrow? And Mary said to Joseph: Because I see two peoples with my eyes; the one weeping and lamenting, and the other rejoicing and exulting. And they came into the middle of the road, and Mary said to him: Take me down from off the [donkey], for that which is in me presses to come forth. And he took her down from off the [donkey], and said to her: Whither shall I lead thee, and cover thy disgrace? for the place is desert.
Also, according to Luke 10:34, a donkey was used to transport someone incapable of walking. Mary, being with child, would have put her unborn son in danger had she walked the entire journey. They were by no means wealthy, given that they chose the poor person’s route to offer their sacrifice when Mary was purified and Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:24, also see Leviticus 12:8). Donkeys then and even today are associated with the working poor. Thus, I think it’s reasonable to think that Mary rode to Jerusalem on a donkey despite not appearing in Scripture.
And I wonder whether either was aware enough that day
To know the child would bring a Kingdom
And the old would come to pass away
Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that Jesus would ascend David’s throne forever (Luke 1:32-33). No doubt she told Joseph about this. Whether she knew the full scope of the shift from old to new covenant is anyone’s guess. But, it is a fascinating question!
[Outro]
Yes, it came to pass that Joseph was the noblest of men
With a woman on a donkey on their way to Bethlehem
Repeats Verse 3, lines 1 and 2.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Unbelievers will easily recognize this as a retelling of part of the “Christmas story”. The opening lines will be familiar to most people. Joseph, Mary, and Bethlehem are explicitly mentioned. Everything written here is plain English and easy for them to digest except possibly the last two lines of Verse 3. I have little expectation that those outside Christianity will understand the meaning of the old and new Kingdom.
Score: 9/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus by accurately retelling portions of the Christmas account and mentioning the old/new covenant shift as part of His reason for coming.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Andrew Peterson’s It Came to Pass is a good Christmas song. It retells Mary and Joseph’s journey to Jerusalem and Joseph’s reversal to take Mary as his wife after wanting to divorce her. It also briefly mentions Jesus’ plan to usher in a new kind of Kingdom, which brings Him glory. Aside from that last point, unbelievers should be able to comprehend these points with relatively little difficulty.
This song doesn’t call Christians to proclaim His value in worth in corporate worship. Therefore, I can only recommend this song as a “special” for reflection during Sunday service.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: It Came to Pass (listen to the song)
Artist: Andrew Peterson
Album: Behold the Lamb of God
Genre: Country
Release Year: 2004
Duration: 2:51
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2004 New Spring Publishing Inc. (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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