I don’t’ need to tell you that’s it’s Christmas time. That news is everywhere. But the world can’t tell you why it’s a time for joy—or even being happy or merry. Even at the first Christmas, no-one could have told you it was a time to be happy, unless there were some angels around to help.
All of us need some help to move beyond trying to keep ourselves happy and find the joy that God is waiting to give us.
Christians don’t need to do things to make them happy. Whole industries are devoted to that. Of course, we all hope for happiness—for ourselves and others, but this is very dependent on circumstances. And it can often be shallow—a cosmetic on the face of sadness. Sometimes, it relies on blocking out the unpleasant parts of life.
But joy is different. It’s an important part of life. It’s not just for the ‘fun bits’. It’s the motive we need to relate warmly, and the enthusiasm we need to get things done. It’s the exuberance we need to live well—an inner confidence, and hope for a future that’s sure. Everyone has this need, but especially those who believe in God and his Son.
Because Christians start with the wonderful gift of Christ to our world, they start with joy, continue with joy—sometimes through pain, and they end with joy. It’s a quality made in heaven, and delivered.
Joy starts with God. Just think about what we know about him for a moment. He knows his creation is good. He loves what he’s made. He’s planned every detail of what he will do to fix our mess. And everything is happening in the time frame he has in mind.
His joy isn’t ignoring our pain. He understands sadness better than any of us. He’s acquainted with everything that’s happening, and grieves over it. He knows how hard it is to change things. And he doesn’t rely on phony fixes. But he knows what he will do to restore joy for us.
This is because everything God does for us focusses on one great event—the coming of his Son into our world—his anointed King. Our joy is dependent on him. Totally!
Luke tells us about three occasions of joy when Jesus comes into our world—for Zechariah, for Mary, and for a group of shepherds.
In each case, an angel is sent to get things moving. In each case, there’s a problem to solve. And, in each case, the joy is offered to everyone. Here’s what we can learn from them.
Zechariah and his wife are old but an angel comes to him and announces that he and his wife will have a son. We’ll get to know him later as John the Baptist. And the angel says, ‘You will have joy and gladness. And many will rejoice at his birth.’[i]
Well, John is not so sure. He and his wife are past having children. And here’s the problem. He may be righteous. He’s performing his once in a lifetime task—burning incense and praying for Israel in the temple’s holy place. But still, he’s living by what’s possible, not by God’s word of promise.
The Old Testament has closed with a guarantee that righteousness will again rise like the sun and shine on his people. And a new Elijah will prepare his people for this day. And Zechariah’s son will be this new Elijah. But Zechariah is focused on problems, not God’s promise!
Being a good man isn’t enough! Anything that’s ‘us’ isn’t enough. God wants us to be expecting something from him. That’s where joy comes from, and how it’s sustained.
Well, God gives him a nine-month course on joy! And while the impossible happens, he’s got time to think.
So, John the Baptist is born, Zechariah regains his voice, and he tells us what joy is and where it comes from. I’ll leave you to read his exuberant praise. Sufficient to say, it all depends on God sending us his Son. God has not given up on his creation, or forgotten his promises to Israel. That’s why there’s always a reason for joy.
And then, an angel is sent to Mary. She is also told about a birth. Her son will be Israel’s Messiah. It’s hard to comprehend the explosion that must go on in her mind. She’s young. She’s betrothed to Joseph. But she also knows the hope of Israel, that God’s king will come to save his people.
Her question is not ‘can this happen?’ but ‘how will this happen’. She’s devout and circumspect, betrothed to Joseph but not married. She asks a good question. The angel, delicately, tells her that the Holy Spirit will ‘overshadow’ her. The Father will be God—no less.
She’s heard enough, and says, ‘Let it be so to me according to your word.’ Possibility is not the question. She’s focused on God’s word, not her worries.
How she feels about this is revealed later. But we know that she visits her auntie Elizabeth who is already pregnant with John. It will be three months before he is born, but Elizabeth says the baby leaps in her womb for joy. As we find out later, John the Baptist is filled with the Spirit from his birth. It’s as though he can’t wait to introduce the Messiah to Israel!
And Elizabeth has learned what is important in this life. She says to Mary, ‘Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.’[ii]
But now, when Jesus is born, Mary tells us what’s in her heart. Let her tell us what’s important in life.[iii]
‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.’ And, ‘…he who is mighty has done great things for me’. She’s insignificant and unworthy but receives mercy—mercy that will come to many. There’s the abiding reason for joy for all of us!
Once again, an angel is sent. This time, to shepherds.
Jesus has been born. The Son of God is in our world. But God can’t rely on us responding appropriately! It’s going to take time to get us to believe this, and for him to get his joy into our minds and hearts.
So, God sends his angel to some shepherds. They’re overwhelmed, and scared. But these shepherds need to get used to God being in charge of what we think is our space! The angel’s message is one ‘of great joy which will be for all the people.’
But notice the wording. ‘I bring you good news.’ ‘To you is born…a Saviour.’ And ‘This will be the sign for you.’ The shepherds aren’t listening to a news item. This is not of general interest. This joy comes to us because God is speaking to us. It’s for ‘all the people’. I am being addressed too!
And now, the shepherds are given something to do. They need to see the connection between the unseen world of God speaking by this angel, and the working out of this in life. They will find this baby in David’s city—Bethlehem, in a feed trough.
Then, God sends a whole choir of angels to show us all how to respond to this great gift. Give glory to God! All of it. And receive the peace! All of it. God is generous in love and ready to act.
Looking for one born to be King in a feed trough is unusual. And, of course, only shepherds would know how to scout around Bethlehem among the sheep shelters and ask their mates if they’ve heard of a baby being born.
But notice what they say. ‘Let’s go, and see!’ And they hurry. And they discover that all they’ve been told is true! And their message goes viral. The unseen world of angels has broken into the world they know.
The coming of joy is no different for us. God has revealed himself in our messy and monotonous world. And he calls us to come and see these things that he has done among us. And to believe the things he will do among us. And to rejoice.
I’d like to follow this up by writing about two other ways in which Jesus comes to us—to bring us joy.
[i] Luke 1:14
[ii] Luke 1:45
[iii] Luke 1:46-55
Simply True 