[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2024]
“Twas the night before Christmas” is the opening line of a popular poem first published in 1823 and commonly ascribed to Clement Moore, an American professor and author. It relates a vision of Christmas Eve with snow, reindeer and a jovial Santa dispensing gifts whilst children are asleep. Although the poem predates the accession of Queen Victoria, the sentiments it expresses, along with the writings of Charles Dickens, have helped to form our perceptions of a Victorian Christmas.
It was the night before Christmas
The Biblical nativity narratives do not give many specific details about the night before the birth of Jesus but there are some scenes that we can infer from the early chapters of the accounts by Luke and Matthew.
King Herod was no doubt in his palace relaxing after a hard day spent trying to balance the conflicting political ambitions in Judea. He had carried out the instruction from Caesar Augustus to organise a census and now he could call for a glass of wine and maybe some dancers to entertain him.
At that time a decree was issued by Augustus Caesar: a census was to be taken of the whole world. (This was the first census, before the one when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)[1] So everyone set off to be registered, each to their own town.
Luke 2 v1-3 [NTfE]
The little town of Bethlehem was crowded with people returning to their ancestral home for the census. All the available rooms were full; the innkeepers and restaurateurs were grabbing the chance of making a healthy profit. For one couple the search for a room was unsuccessful and they ended up in a stable.
Outside the town shepherds were going about their normal business, attending to their duties under the clear night sky, far from the madding crowd and unaffected by the noise of the throngs.
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were taking care of their sheep.
Luke 2 v8 [NIRV]
Far away to the east there was a group of astrologers who were gazing into the night sky. Perhaps they were descendents of the Jewish families who had been taken into exile in Babylon; perhaps they had access to the writings of Daniel and other prophecies. When they noticed a star that was new to them they knew what it meant.
Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose. Now we have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2 v1-2 [NIVUK]
What is your vision of Christmas Eve? Do you feel like Herod, confident that all is under control, or the innkeepers trying to make the most of the occasion? Do you identify with the shepherds, going about their normal routine? Perhaps it is better to be wise men, recognising the true significance of the event and putting our efforts into preparing to worship the new-born king.
Hark, the glad sound! the Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long!
Let every heart prepare a throne and every voice a song.
Philip Doddridge (1735)
References:
[1] for discussions on the timing of this census, see
» ‘The Census and Quirinius: Luke 2:2’ by Wayne Brindle, March 1984
» BibleHub commentaries
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Last week’s reflection: Love came down at Christmas
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Hi Steve,
Thank you for this reflection. It seems to me that some information in the gospels is missing.
In Luke Chapter 2 we are told about the shepherds visiting Jesus at a manger, preachers often talk a lot about a stable with animals but only a manger is mentioned, which could have been in a clean out building. Luke states that after 8 days or so Jesus was presented at the temple at Jerusalem. However, I wonder if after this event they eventually returned to Bethlehem for some reason unknown to us (possibly work related) and some time later the astrologers followed the star to a house or temporary accommodation where Jesus was before the family escaped to Egypt.
Dear Steve;
Many thanks for this. The problem when the story has become so familiar is that one doesn’t stop to ponder. I hadn’t ever thought about what the night before might have been for the main characters in the story.
Have a Happy Christmas.
Thank you Steve for all your reflections throughout the year. May you and your family have a joyful Christmas and a blessed New Year.