I love glimpsing into the personalities of the people from history who we meet in the Bible. I love to ask, "What makes him tick? What motivates her to keep going?"
When we think of the Joy of Christmas, we tend to think of lights and decorations, carols and choirs, candlelight and scented trees, and all of the other modes of celebrating our Joy.
It seems, though, that our modes of celebrating our Joy have replaced the Joy itself.
I think it’s time for a review of the Joy that flooded the hearts of those very first celebrants of the coming of the Christ.
Luke 2
The angels were filled with Joy. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
The shepherds were filled with Joy. 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child… 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
Simeon was filled with Joy. 25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Anna was filled with Joy. 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The angels, shepherds, Simeon, and Anna celebrated the birth of the Christ with shouts, proclamations and promises.
My prayer for this season of remembering the coming of our Savior is that we will do it with shouts and proclamations that the power of sin has been broken, that the promise of a Savior has been fulfilled.
Let the lights fill us with Joy as they remind us that the Light of God has come to show us the path of salvation.
Let the decorations fill us with Joy as they remind us that Christ came to us so that we could one day go to Him and live forever in the splendor of the King.
Let the carols and choirs fill us with Joy as they remind us that the Good News of the coming of the Messiah is to be shared.
Let the candlelight fill us with Joy as we reflect on the peace and calm that Jesus wants to bring to our hearts.
Let the scents of the season fill us with Joy as they remind us of the gifts of the Magi and that we, too, are invited into the presence of God through prayers, which rise to him as sweet incense.
And let us always remember the reason for our Joy!
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