THE MELLINNIA BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote "Twas the Night Before Christmas," also called "A Visit from St. Nicholas," in 1822. His "Norman Rockwell-like" poem has absolutely nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. In fact, only the first and last lines of the fifty-six line poem even have a vague reference to Jesus, where His title, "Christ," is included in the word "Christmas." It is really sad that most Americans know more about the traditions described in Moore's poem than they do about the true meaning of Christmas.

Long before the "night before Christmas," long before the "first Christmas" as the birth of Christ is called, Jesus existed. In fact, there never was a time when He did not exist. Following Christ's creation of everything in the universe (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2), He heard His Father say, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness" (Gen. 1:26). You see, God's plan was already "a done deal." He knew what all that we call "history" would entail. The yet to be born, the future incarnate Son of God, was already deemed rejected and crucified (Matt. 13:35; 25:34; Lk. 11:50; Jn. 17:24; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 4:3; 9:26; 1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8; 17:8). In His prayer just prior to being arrested, Jesus said, "And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was" (Jn. 17:5).

The Psalmist wrote, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God" (Ps. 90:2). The prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would be born in the little town of Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). Who is this One that should be born? He is the One "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Mic. 5:2).

John (the Baptist) clearly pointed to the fact of the pre-existence of Christ: "John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me" (Jn. 1:15). This paradoxical statement can be understood only as we distinguish between the two natures of Christ. When viewed from the standpoint of His humanity, He came after John (the Baptist). Mary gave birth to Him six months after Elizabeth had given birth to John (Lk. 1:26).

Jesus, Himself, made the clearest statement of His pre-existence. Speaking with a group of unbelieving Jewish religious leaders, He said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad" (Jn. 8:56). "Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?" (Jn. 8:57). They were shocked and angered by the Lord's final words: "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" (Jn. 8:58). They considered this to be ultimate blasphemy and they "took up stones to cast at Him" (Jn. 8:59).

Perhaps if Moore had written a poem about Jesus instead of one about Santa, more of mankind would be focused upon His Second Coming. "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).