Thoughts on the Advent of Joy

Last Sunday was the third Sunday of Advent, traditionally called the Advent of Joy. When the angels announced to the shepherds, that first Christmas morning, they said there was “good news of great joy to all people.” These were the first words spoke to the world concerning the joy of Christmas.

The good news, the angels spoke about is the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news will be fulfilled and filled in after the cross, yet this morning the whole process started. The birth of Christ proved that God was serious and that this salvation spoken of in the Old Testament was real. The good news to the Jewish people is that the Law was going to be fulfilled for them. Striving and working for God’s favor was a thing of the past. Belief in Jesus Christ, salvation by grace, through faith was the new order of the day.

The second aspect of why the first Christmas was joyful was that now, God’s salvation would be open to all people, everywhere. The gift of salvation through Christ alone can be and will be offered to every nation, every language and all people and everyone will have the opportunity to accept. Prior to this, God’s work of salvation came through the Law and the Law was given to the Jews only. Egypt did not have their copy of the Law. It was given to the Jews for the Jews.

God did send his prophets as missionaries to foreign lands. Jonah is one example of someone who took the basics of the Law to a foreign people and Christians will see 120,000 Ninevites in heaven because Jonah eventually obeys.

For the Christian, Joy is not only associated with Christmas, but it is in the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. This means that God powered joy comes to a person at the moment of salvation. The joy of the Lord is in every believer. However, we can find all sorts of the things in the world to push the joy down. It is too easy for Christians to get their attitude marching orders from the news or from Facebook or another social or entertainment medium.

One teacher once told me that talking about Christ, keeping the work and word of Christ in our minds and on our lips is a great way to let the joy out. Since the Holy Spirit wants to continue the work of Christ, pondering and speaking about the work of Christ and what he has done will break through all the worldly baggage and bring the joy up.

Whatever your plans are for this Christmas, make it a Christ centered Christmas and experience the joy of the first Christmas and the true joy of Christ. Merry Christmas.

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