There is no time of the year … like this time of the year. During this Christmas season, it seems that ordinary space and time are taken over by a sense of wonder and reverence and glee. And even though Christmastime is often filled with extra busyness and sometimes stress, at the heart of the season … is JOY. And that is as it should be… Christmas is meant to be a celebration of the One who came to give us life and to set us free! And that’s a reason for JOY! But, the reality of JOY is this: It’s not just for one season…
This is the time of year when we talk about ADVENT—a coming, specifically the coming of God to us … in the form of a little bitty baby named Jesus (God Under Wraps). Theologically, we term this reality ‘God incarnate’—literally God in bodily form. Tonight, I want to introduce another idea to you—an incarnate idea. I want to also say that Christmas wasn’t just about God incarnate, but it was also about ‘LOVE incarnate’ and ‘JOY incarnate’. Jesus was the embodiment of the LOVE and JOY that God so wants all of us to know and to have. He was full of the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) that is the source of God’s LOVE and JOY. So, where the Spirit is—that same Spirit Jesus had, so too is his LOVE and JOY…
This reality of JOY became real to me in the year 2013 (and the beginning of 2014). For those of you who may not be aware, I’ve had to miss the past two Christmases with my congregations! In December 2012, I had begun to have chest pains and was required to ‘lay low’ until I could have my surgery on Jan. 4, 2013. Then, in December 2013, I was recovering from breaking my neck and having spine fusion surgery. It was not a fun year!
BUT … you have to know this, too: JOY WAS PRESENT throughout what was maybe the lowest point of my life! There were times, even as a long-time follower of Christ, even as a Christian minister, that I wondered if this JOY that I kept reading about in the Bible was for real! This was a real time of testing for me … physically and spiritually! But the good news, folks, is that JOY WAS PRESENT through every day of both recoveries…
Now, I was told that there would be some post-surgery depression—especially after my heart surgery. If you’ve never been through a major surgery before, there’s nothing like it (although I wouldn’t recommend it)! There is nothing like it! And following major surgery, many go through a time of grief … just like you’ve lost a loved one. And what you are grieving is your health. The reality suddenly hits that you’ve lost a part of your health. Things aren’t and won’t be the same as they were before. I was warned about the ‘blue days’ prior to my heart surgery, by both my doctors and later on my nurses too. For me, it was feelings of loss, loneliness (like I was the only one who had ever gone through this before), and just general sadness. But, for me, it only lasted an hour or so here, and an hour or so there. For the most part, even during my darkest times, I knew that I wasn’t in control and could count on God to be in control—always there for me. And that, folks, brought me JOY … even in the midst of my sorrow!
That may sound just a bit contradictory, but I don’t think it is. It’s how God’s gift of JOY works! And, again, JOY isn’t just for one season! It’s for every season we go through! AND no one is more joyful than God himself, because Christmas—for God—is all about getting his kids back… So, Christmas is all about:
The Father’s Joy. Luke 15 finds Jesus telling us a story of the Father’s JOY through the story of the Prodigal Son—a young man who is lost and found again. Bored and restless, the young man decides to leave home and family, burning relational bridges as he goes. He goes off to lead the decadent life he desires; but in the end, worn out by bad choices and failed dreams, he realizes that, in order to survive, he must go home and beg his father for forgiveness; listen…
So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. – Luke 15:20-24 (NIV)
So, Jesus—in this story—gives us a glimpse of the JOY of our Heavenly Father, too … as he receives his children back to himself. So, Christmas is about THE FATHER’S JOY … and Christmas is also about…
The Son’s Gift. As God’s kids, we’ve all sinned and gone our own way. Beginning in the Garden of Eden, we’ve rejected the good things of God in order to pursue our selfish desires. Our sin separated us from God … and we couldn’t make our own way back to him. So, God made a way for us—being faithful to his promises—and sent Jesus to earth to rescue us and welcome us home as his beloved children…
On that very first Christmas day, God was certainly full of JOY because he knew Jesus could do it; he knew that he was now going to get his children back! This was God’s ‘from-the-beginning’ rescue plan that was now set into motion. And GOD COULDN’T CONTAIN HIS EXCITEMENT (like our son, Josh); he had to tell someone, so he sent his angels to proclaim the Good News; listen…
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. 9 Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. 10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: 11 A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. 12 This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” 13 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: 14 Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. – Luke 2:8-14 (MSG)
All of Heaven was rejoicing that day, for JOY was birthed into the world—‘JOY incarnate’! God, in the form of a little bitty baby was sent to rescue us all! Through Jesus, God revealed to us who he was and is; through Jesus, we’re then able to joyfully receive the wonderful gift of God’s love and mercy, which God’s pleased to give us…
Folks, this truly is a Season of Joy. And God’s gift of JOY is for every season we go through in life. JOY comes in knowing that Christ is with you … no matter what! No matter what you’re going through in life, no matter what you’re going through right now, God’s gift of JOY can be yours … in Christ! And JOY comes in knowing that God rejoices when he’s in relationship with his kids—when he knows they’re open to his very best for them … including his gift of JOY!
If you’ll look carefully, there God is … right down the road … arms open to receive us back to his home—forever. Won’t you join me in opening your heart wide open to receive the Christ of Christmas? Won’t you be filled with God’s gift of JOY, as we go through this season and into the New Year together? He’s waiting for you—arms open wide…