Where does Christmas Joy come from?
Have you ever thought about why Christmas is a joyous occasion? All Christians know that the birth of Christ is something that deserves joyous celebration. In fact, the Bible itself attests to the joy surrounding the Savior’s birth. For instance, Luke records how the angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks in the fields. The angel says to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11). But again, why is the birth of Christ a joyous event?
Mere Sentiment?
If you ask most people what Christmas is all about, you will get something like “being with family” or “the spirit of giving” or a nebulous “Jesus is the reason for the season.” These are warm sentiments and often important values, but they are woefully inadequate when we look at the biblical meaning of the birth and incarnation of Jesus Christ.
A Cute little baby?
Perhaps we think that the joy of Christmas is like the joy at the birth of any other baby. We all know the joy of a new baby born into world. We experience deep excitement and elation when a new life is born. We feel that God has indeed performed a miracle and that His handiwork is on display for all to see in this new life that we hold in our hands. This is certainly how Melissa and I felt about the birth of both of our sons. And yet, even this is not the joy that is spoken about in the Scriptures concerning the birth of our Lord.
The Cradle, The Cross, and The Crown
You see, when we look at the Bible, the great work of Jesus is seen in an interdependent complex of events. The birth of Jesus (His incarnation) is always viewed in connection with His work of salvation and redemption on the Cross (His death), and His death on the Cross is connected with His resurrection from the grave. In other words, the reason that there is joy in Christmas is because it promises us salvation through the sacrifice of Christ’s life on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead.
Take a look back at Luke 2:10-11 and notice how the angel connects “good news of great joy” with who Jesus is and what He will do. “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people FOR today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The FOR there is explaining the reason for the joy. The reason for the joy is that Christ has come to be our Savior as the Christ (the Messiah). Many Old Testament texts clearly show that the Messiah, who would save His people from their sins, will do so by suffering and dying on their behalf in their place (for example see Isa. 53:1-12). So, Jesus is a man born to die; and by the miraculous power of God that is a joyous thing!
A Strange but Overwhelming Joy
This seems strange, doesn’t it? Death of those we love is never joyous. It is always filled with pain and grief, but the death of Jesus is the only thing that saves us from our sins and the only thing that could make us right with God. The death of Jesus is at the very center of the gospel message. Therefore, the death of Jesus is joyous precisely because it is how God brings everlasting blessing to all those who believe in His Son.
I hope you are beginning to see the reason that the Bible views the birth of Jesus to be such a joyous thing. It was the first step in the fulfillment of God’s plan to redeem people (cf. Luke 2:29-32). It proceeded to the Cross where Christ would bear God’s wrath for our sins. It continued in victory over sin, death, and the devil by Christ’s resurrection. And it will finally culminate in the return of Christ and the resurrection of the saints to everlasting glory in a new heaven and a new earth.
As you think about the joy of Christmastime, I hope you find it in the glory of the gospel revealed in the birth of Jesus our Lord. Certainly, you will experience other reasons for joy at Christmastime—the joy of family traditions, giving gifts, singing songs, good food, and more. All of these joys really point beyond themselves to the deeper, truer, more lasting joy that is found in the light of the Christ’s coming to be God with Us. May the joy that is founded upon the saving work of Christ—who was born to die so that we might live—be to you a most glorious and magnificent truth this year.
