Christmas Eve: "naughty Or Nice"

CHRISTMAS EVE SERMON

LUKE 2:1-20

INTRODUCTION… Origin of N & N List, wiki/Santa_Claus_Is_Comin%27_to_Town

The idea of Santa Claus keeping a “naughty and nice” list developed gradually over centuries, blending Christian theology, folklore, and popular culture rather than coming from a single original source.

The earliest reference that I can tell was in 1934 from the song “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” written by J Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. That song debuted on a radio show in November of 1934. Within 24 hours, 500,000 copies of sheet music and 30,000 records were sold. It has been recorded by over 200 artists since then. The lyrics of this song introduce us to the idea of the “naughty and nice list” as it relates to Christmas and Santa Claus and kids and presents:

You better watch out, you better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why:

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He's makin' a list, checkin' it twice, Gonna find out who's naughty or nice,

Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He sees you when you're sleepin', He knows when you're awake,

He knows if you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake!

Right there in the 1934 instant viral hit song is the formal declaration that Santa Claus has a list of folks who do good or bad all the while judging what kinds of gifts they get. I am not sure if the list was just understood or assumed in previous years given that The Department of Christmas Affairs subcontracts with Krampus to deal with disobedient and terrible individuals. Anyway, there you go, the Naughty and Nice List was declared in a song in 1934 to be a thing.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2025

“Naughty or Nice” refers to the ongoing list Santa Claus seems to have that has a record of rights and wrongs. Those on the “nice” list get presents. Those on the “naughty” list get coal. Two lists and two gifts. Our focus is not technically Santa or a list, but rather Jesus. Let’s look at Jesus’ birth where we will discover two lists and one gift. Tonight, I’d like us to focus on what happened the night of Jesus’ birth. Luke chapter 2 records for us what happened on the night of Jesus’ birth.

READ Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

As we look over this passage of Scripture, I’d like to focus even further down to verses 9-12. I want to read them again so we focus well.