Joy. This is one of key themes that we repeatedly see in the Advent narratives. It is also something that we as people are naturally drawn after. We want it and we pursue it. But, regrettably, it is often so elusive.
But what is it? Why is it so precious, so highly esteemed? And how do we get it?
What is it?
In Luke chapter 2 we see that the angel brings an announcement of great joy that will be for all the people. This announcement contains what God has said and the fact that God will do something.
We know that this is from God because Luke tells us that is an angel that is bringing the message. Angels of course are messengers. Specifically messengers sent from God. What’s more, the angel comes in such a way as to demonstrate that the message comes from him. We read in Luke 2 that the glory of the Lord shone around them (2:9). In the Old Testament the glory and presence of God would be shown through thick clouds, bright lights or other staggering physical demonstrations. This angel comes from God with a message from God.
Therefore, joy, before it is anything else, is dependent upon what God has said. In other words, joy is tied to realizing and embracing the fact that God sees, speaks, and attends to our greatest needs. So, joy is the result of abiding trust in a God who is omnipotent and omni-benevolent towards you. Joy comes from knowing that God is powerful and lovingly for you!
Why is it so precious?
So often, when we think of joy we often think about happiness, a good mood, or maybe someone’s personality. And we also think that joy is tied to circumstances. When things are going well we are joyful, but when it is hard then, it is difficult to be joyful.
However, if joy was to be tied to circumstances then it would be pretty difficult for those involved in the early chapters of the gospel narrative to be joyful. What followed the angel’s announcement of joy? Mary and Joseph have to deal with sneering ridicule from their community over their scandalous birth. Jesus himself was born to die, experienced great poverty, was rejected by religious leaders, called the devil, was abandoned by close friends, called crazy by his siblings, and ultimately murdered by zealots. Mary as a widow, would watch this unfold and herself watch the crucifixion, truly feeling the sword pierce through her own soul as well (Lk. 2:35). If joy was tied to circumstances then there is likelihood that these people could be joyful.
Thankfully it is not. The Bible goes on to say that a Savior will be born. What do we need to be saved from? Our greatest need is salvation from sin, Satan and death. We need to be rescued from our sin. The fact that God has sent forth a Savior means that God is concerned with our greatest need. Our problem of sin and separation from God will be dealt with by the Savior. Christ lived, died, and rose again as our curse-bearing, sin-atoning, law-satisfying, death-conquering substitute! This is where we are to find joy—even great joy!
The Bible shows us that joy is tied ultimately to God’s character—who God is and what he has done—instead of simply our circumstances. Our circumstances change, they go up and down; however God’s character is fixed—he does not change and he is always trustworthy.
This is one reason why this joy is so precious: it is not dependent simply upon things going well for you but upon God being faithful to you. This is a reason to be joyful!
Think about this: your greatest and most pressing issue in all the world for your entire life is this: how will you take care of your guilt before God?
Friends, I am not trying diminish all of the big things that you are facing. However, I am trying to relativize them! Nothing is more pressing for you than reconciliation with God. When this big item is dealt with you can be joyful through everything else.
How is it received?
How do we get this joy? The verses said that it was for all the people (Lk. 2:10). It is not limited to certain types of people from certain places but all people throughout the world and history. This is good news—it is for us today.
The Bible makes clear that if we recognize our sin, our imperfection before God and confess it to him, agreeing with him that it is bad and sinful and asking him to forgive us—and we trust in Christ as our sin-bearing substitute, then God will forgive us (Rom. 6:23; 1 Jn. 1:9-10, 2:1, 3:16, 3:23).
The joy comes by knowing Christ. Because it is in Christ that we come to know God and all of his blessings. And, we come to know Christ by trusting in him. Perhaps this concept of joy sounds foreign but is nevertheless attractive. You can have your greatest problem dealt with and then experience the joy that comes through knowing and trusting God.
