The Longest Night of Christmas
On December 21, the Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. On this date, we experience more physical darkness than any other day. Yet, the coming of this day exists within a season characterized by lights, joy, excitement, and cheer. The celebration of the birth of Christ provides the reason to celebrate amid this occurrence. Still, likewise, this day serves as a reminder that for some, they face the reality of experiencing the holiday season without someone for the first time. Thus, this event of the Winter Solstice provides a reminder of God’s care and provision to deal with the darkness of life and as a time in the middle of the Christmas season to remember and reflect.
In the Gospel of John, we find the event in Jesus’ life when he dealt with the death of His friend Lazarus. In John 11:35, the Bible provides for us a moment of the longest night when we read the words, “Jesus wept.” This declaration by John described what the disciple witnessed as Jesus engaged the family of His dear friend. This verse and the surrounding passage reveal several reminders as we remember and reflect on those we have lost this year.
First, Jesus knows the reality of your pain. Jesus knows the emotions you feel. He experienced them in the incarnation and made them as Creator. He is not unaware of pain, hurt, or the grief of losing a loved one. Instead, He understands your emotions at this moment and does not overlook or forget them. Remember that you are not alone on this longest night of Christmas, but the Lord knows and understands the reality of your pain.
Second, Jesus hurts because you hurt. A part of Jesus’ mourning over Lazarus occurred because of his compassion and care for the family of Lazarus. As he engaged Lazarus’ sisters, He witnessed their questions from grief and their pain of losing one they love. The weeping of Jesus revealed His love for others and His nature of hurting with those who hurt. The longest night of Christmas serves to remind us that the Lord has empathy toward us. He hurts because of the hurt of His children, and He responds with compassion.
Third, Jesus cares even though He knows the future. The arrival of Jesus on the scene came as He knew Lazarus would be raised from the dead. Jesus knew the work He was about to perform and knew that the work would be for His glory and reveal more to those who followed. Yet, the known future did not change the present response of Jesus toward Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary. He still cared and showed compassion. He did not question their emotions or push them aside as not important because of His foreknowledge. Instead, He engaged them with care. The same is true on this longest night of Christmas. He knows the future and the reality of His promises but still cares and extends compassion.
Fourth, Jesus shows emotions are okay. The weeping of Jesus revealed that the feelings of grief are normal. This existence of feelings does not mean that the emotions remain forever but shows that the reality of feeling and response exists. During the longest night of Christmas, many people attempt to subdue their emotions and feelings as they reflect on the ones they miss in this season. Such emotions are okay to express, but likewise, they must not become the norm of the situation. Jesus showed emotion and then carried for His work that gave a pathway to victory over the emotions the sisters were experiencing. Jesus not only demonstrates the presence of emotions but provides a way to victory over them.
Fifth, Jesus shows that the longest night is a mere moment. The Winter Solstice is one day in 365 days of the year. It is a moment when the darkness dominates the day. On December 22, the darkness will shorten, and the journey toward the longest day of light begins. Every Winter Solstice of life begins a journey toward the light. The moment of pain is fleeting, and the road to recovery is real. Jesus wept for a moment, raised Lazarus from the dead, and brought rejoicing to the Lord. On this longest day, know that such pain is a journey. Each day provides a part of healing.
The longest night of Christmas comes when we navigate the season without the presence of a loved one for the first time. Maybe this season, you are experiencing this reality. Perhaps you have lost a grandparent, parent, spouse, or child. Perhaps you are in the middle of grief and struggling. Here is the truth. Jesus wept in compassion. Jesus wept in hope. Jesus wept in love. Jesus wept, knowing the future. Jesus wept because He cared. Such a truth is existent today for those who are journeying.
