Christmas Joy

Luke 2:8-11

If there is a word that we often use to describe what Christmas is all about, it’s the little word “joy.” Several of our favorite carols mention it: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,” “Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice,” “Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies, with th’ angelic host proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’” It’s so easy to feel joy when we sing these wonderful songs.

At the heart of the Christmas message is joy. Unfortunately, too often we’ve got the wrong idea about joy. We tend to connect it with happiness and think that joy depends on our circumstances. You can’t have joy by going from one party to another or frantically racing through the shopping quadrant and out of town shopping centres. In fact, going shopping at Christmas time can become an excellent way to lose our joy.

Where does Christmas joy come from? Listen to the words of Luke 2:8-10 and see if you can discover the answer: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

The angel came with: “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” What is this “good news of great joy?” Verse 11 has the answer. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

If you are looking for Christmas joy, I suggest that you can find all you need in this single verse. The joy of Christmas is JESUS, a Saviour has been born.

Have you made room for Jesus in your 2017 Christmas celebrations? If not, why not?

Have a joyous Christmas!

Nadolig Llawen!