The night before Christmas

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Imagine a world of darkness, waiting for a light. Imagine life filled with hopelessness, waiting for hope to come. Imagine a people desperate for their King, waiting for Emmanuel. That was the night before Christmas.

Remove all the imagery that our culture thrusts at us on this day. It wasn’t stockings hung by the chimney with care. It wasn’t expectations of Saint Nick soon to be there. It was dark, and there was a void. A long awaited Savior child was about to enter this world and pierce the darkness. And they waited.

It wasn’t presents wrapped underneath the tree. It wasn’t sleigh bells and caroling down the street. It was God made flesh who dwelt among us. It was Holiness incarnate. It was Jesus Christ our Lord.

The night before Christmas is filled with anticipation, thrill, and excitement of what tomorrow will bring. Last night at our Christmas Eve services, we sang Silent Night as candlelight filled the room, one candle at a time. And just as one candle pierced the darkness and the light spread to each one holding their own candle, so the light of Christ came into this world in the form of a humble, poor child, piercing our darkness and spreading the light of salvation to all who would receive it.

That was night before Christmas. Darkness, desperation, waiting, longing. And then Christ came to be with us. He has come for us, this Jesus. He is the hope of all mankind. He was born to give us life. Celebrate that this night.

Merry Christmas.