We sing about a list. Yep, that’s right. A list. A list of everything we’ve ever done. All of the good things and all of the bad things. Someone is keeping a list.

I want you to read the following words slowly, and in a scary voice, like something out of a horror movie.

You’d better watch out. You’d better not cry.

You’d better not pout. I’m telling you why.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

He’s making a list and checking it twice.

Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you’re sleeping.

He knows when you’re awake.

He knows if you’ve been bad or good.

So be good for goodness sake.

Now, I don’t know about you. But for me that is totally creepy. I’m scared just writing this.

Are you kidding me? Someone is keeping a list, a list of every single thing I’ve done?

Someone watches me even when I sleep? They know all of it - good and bad?

What am I meant to do about that horribly incriminating list?

Now let me tell you about another guy who comes along at Christmas time. His name is Jesus and he ripped up Santa’s list.

That’s right.

When he died on the cross he paid the penalty for all of the naughty, bad things you and I have done.

For those who believe in Jesus, that means there’s no more list. We are free. Now if that’s not ‘good news of great joy’ I don’t know what is.