December 5, 2021

“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.  This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 (NIV)

The Joy of Christmas is the Joy of a baby, a baby who came to bring Joy.  The prophet Jeremiah prophesied, “Then the virgin shall rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy, And will comfort them, and give them joy for their sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13 (NASB)

Jesus is the one who gives us a reason to rejoice.  In that manger lay the one who would bring deliverance from the bondage of sin.  The baby wrapped in swaddling clothes would bring life to those dead in their sin.  And this helpless baby would be the one strong enough to break the grip of the power that sin has upon the world.  Surely the freedom, life, and power found in this baby can turn our mourning into joy.

Christ came to bring His Joy to the world.  And today we share that joy with others as we love them with Christ’s Love.  The candle of Joy serves not only as a reminder of the joy of salvation and a challenge to share our joy.  It is also a reminder of the Joy yet to come.  Isaiah gives us this promise, “The redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:9-10 (NIV)

Truly, the message of Christmas is a message of “great joy!”