Christmas Eve 2024.

Invariably, the day after Christmas someone in the family will announce:
‘Just 364 more sleeps until Christmas.’
And the children all sigh. It seems such a long while.

But imagine how long the Jewish people waited for that first promised Christmas. The prophet Isaiah told of the coming Messiah. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light … for a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:2,6-7). And his contemporary, the prophet Micha, said the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, in the city of David,

This is what Micah said:

‘But to you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Juda, from you shall come forth one who is to rule Isarl, whose origin is of old, from ancient days, when she who is in labour will give birth … and he shall be the bringer of peace.’ (Micah 5:2,3,5)

That was seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus. For those counting, that is 255,500 sleeps! That is a lot of sleeps to wait until Christmas.

After the time of the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah about the birth of the coming Messiah, the prophets and the people all talked about ‘that day’ and the ‘day of the Lord that was coming.’ It was something in the future, something great that would happen some day. ‘When Messiah comes …’ people would say. And they kept this up for 700 years.

So that is why the message to the shepherds that the angel brought is so exciting.

‘Today,’ the Angel said. Not some day in the distant future, but finally, 255,500 sleeps after the first promise of Christmas, ‘Today is born to you in the city of David, a Saviour, who is the Messiah and Lord. And you will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’

After more than 700 years it was finally Christmas. And there were not simply decorative angels on a Christmas tree present, but real angels came to announce his birth and to sing praises to his name.

And these angels didn’t show up to make their announcement and sing their song in the palace of King Herod, or in the palace of the Roman governor, or in the great home of the high priest, or among the assembly of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leader, or among any other gathering the powerful and wealthy. They showed up in a paddock outside a small town in Judah to a group of lowly shepherds.  And their message: Good news of great joy! After more than 255,500 sleeps, Christmas is here. The promised and long-awaited Messiah, the one who will bring peace to all people, has been born! And he is lying among the animals in a manger just down that hill in the village of Bethlehem. Go and welcome him!

After such a long wait for Christmas, it was not what anyone was expecting. A king born in a palace perhaps, or a child born to the high priest. But a baby born to peasant parents in a stable is a small country village. No one had imagined that. But it was exactly what the prophet Micah has said would happen 700 years earlier.

And do you know what? It was not the birth many were expecting, but it is the birth the world needed. And Jesus grew up to become not the Messiah that many expected, who would come in judgment and with a sword. But he grew up and became the Messiah the world needed, who brough a message of peace, hope and love.

And this event truly did bring good news and great joy to all the world. So once every 365 sleeps, we celebrate a birth that was 255,500 sleeps in the making, from the first promise to the coming of the new king.

Pastor Mark Worthing.