It is the last few days before Christmas Day. Most of the preparation is done. The cookies are baked, the presents are wrapped – mostly – and the house is all sparkly with lights, flickering LED candles (since I don’t want to have hot candle wax dripping everywhere ), and a tree – a real Tannenbaum. Our family celebration will be very small this year, but we will be seeing our out of town kids and grandchildren after Christmas. I can’t wait. I am like a child myself waiting for Jesus’ birthday.

There is debate about the actual date of Christ’s birth. The Bible does not give specifics about the year, date or the time, but Christian tradition has always held to December 25th. In an interesting series on “The Stream”, contributor Al Perotta dissects the controversies around the date and gives internal Biblical and cultural evidence for Jesus being born on – December 25. https://stream.org/born-on-christmas-day-so-jesus-was-born-on-december-25th-after-all/

This then raises a question. Well, what about the time? When did Mary actually go into labor and deliver the Babe? One can assume that He being her first born and that it was a normal delivery, Jesus was born sometime during the night of the 24th-25th. The details of the Nativity told in Luke 2:1-20 fit into that time framework. What is very clear is this. On the 24-25th of December, between 6 and 1 B.C., “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Earthly chronos time was overtaken by God’s eternal time. Heaven and earth met in Bethlehem. Jesus was born. “In Him was life and that Life was the light of men.”

But what of the night before Christmas? What about the nights stretching backwards from the Nativity for thousands of years? What can we say about it?

It was a time of spiritual darkness. The Jews were still waiting for the promised Messiah to free them from oppression, death’s shadows. Centuries earlier, Isaiah prophesied the coming of Messiah:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

When Zechariah obeyed the angel Gabriel’s command and named his son, John, he proclaimed salvation in a joyous song:
… because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”…Luke 1:78-79.

The same promise is given to the Gentiles by Simeon who recognizes the Infant Jesus.
…For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”…Luke 2:30-32.

It was a time of violence. The Roman Empire had forcefully conquered the world and established the Pax Romana within its conquests, but it came with an iron fist through exploitation, slavery and brutality. The constant Jewish rebellions and revolts against the Emperor ‘s rule were met swiftly, cruelly and fatally. Rome used public crucifixions adapted from the Persians as a way to instill even fear of and obedience to Roman authority. Peace was maintained at the expense of crushing human bodies and spirits. The perfect “Prince of Peace” had not yet arrived. The heavenly host of angels were still in heaven readying their songs of praise: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”

It was a time of sin. God could only be approached through strict adherence to the Law according to the Pharisees. The burdens of obeying the minutia of the law in daily religious life kept people under the thumb of the Pharisees, without hope here or in the hereafter. There was no escape from sin, death and the grave either under the Romans or under the religious leaders.

Such was the reality of the “Night Before Christmas” for the ancient world. Their ” night” was darker than we can know, without light as we know it. Before the events of Luke 2 occurred, it was endless nights without a Savior. Then on December 25, a child was born of the virgin Mary and the Gospel of salvation came to humble shepherds:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!…Luke 2:10-11

For believers, there is no Night Before Christmas. The Sun of Righteousness has come with healing in His wings. Jesus Christ was born two thousand years ago and His Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. With Israel, we sing, Rejoice, rejoice. To thee has come Emmanuel.

I really do like Clement Moore’s poem. I loved reading it to our children when they were little. It is a Christmas classic and I am no Grinch. But Jesus ended the world’s dark night forever. Hanging up stockings for an imaginary elf to bring us gifts is just a fleeting fancy compared to the joyful Incarnation of Jesus Christ.