The Joy of Christmas

The shopping malls are themed with colors of white, gold, green, and red. Christmas songs such as “Jingle Bell Rock” are heard on repeat in elevators. Houses in neighborhoods are decked down in festive decor. Scents of peppermint, sweet ginger, cinnamon, and pine fills the air. Salvation army bells are heard ringing as volunteers line store fronts. An atmosphere of giving and charitable work penetrate our heart. “Oh, the joy of Christmas” one may say.

The Christmas season without a doubt provide many with the happy feeling known as the holiday spirit. But what if I told you that the joy of Christmas is more profound than a feeling? That unlike the happiness experienced only during the holidays, the true joy of Christmas lasts year-round.

Good News of Great Joy on Christmas

A few months ago, I wrote a post about Why Happiness is Temporary but Joy Survives the Test of Time . This joy was made available on the day we celebrate as Christmas, thousands of years ago.

Luke records,

 “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” – Luke 2:10 (ESV)

I believe the angel of the Lord was strategic in stating “good news of great joy” to the shepherds.

As spoken of in How Our Expectation Rooted in Hope is Important, the hope of salvation brought great joy! And let’s be honest. In a world of so much suffering, loss and pain, great joy is good news indeed! The joy of Christmas is not a feeling but it is a person, Jesus Christ, and the promise He fulfills.

Christ’s willingness to enter into this broken world to later die so that we might live should bring joy to our hearts. As believers, we can view the trials we face and what the world has come to through the lenses of hope and not despair. For we know that there is the promise of a life beyond this life we currently live which was made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. His salvation saves every believer from the sting of eternal death. His salvation saves us from the brokenness of this life, sets things right, makes everything whole and all things new.

Hope Brings Joy

Not to appear to be the bearer of bad news but this world doesn’t get any better. It only gets worse. But amid that reality, the good news is, in Christ, there’s the joy we have of the hope of eternal life. Death has lost its grip and restoration has mended brokenness through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank Christ today for coming during the appointed time, through the line of forty-two generations to bring the joy of salvation on Christmas. As this Advent series comes to a close, I pray that Christ restores the joy of salvation for those of us who may be experiencing spiritual apathy. I pray for hearts of repentance and a drawing near to Christ. May the joy of Christ rejuvenate your spirit to remain steadfast, holding on to the hope that will not put us to shame.

Echoing once more the angel of the Lord’s annunciation, there’s “good news of great joy”. Yes, great joy of hope is good news indeed.