Passage: Luke 2:8-14
The Big Idea
“‘Tis the season to be jolly,” but for many people Christmas brings more stress, or even sorrow, than joy. The angel didn’t announce a jolly season; he announced “good news of great joy for all people”: a Savior has been born. Joy isn’t found in gifts, money, entertainment or holidays. The source and wellspring of joy is the Savior Himself. Jesus came to rescue us from sin and from a meaningless existence, and to give us abundant life in His presence, where there is fullness of joy.
The Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14)
There were shepherds out in the fields nearby, watching their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, the glory of the Lord blazed around them, and they were terrified. But the angel told them not to be afraid: he was bringing good news of great joy for all people. That very day, in the city of David, a Savior had been born for them, Christ the Lord. The sign would be a baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger. Suddenly a vast army of heaven appeared with the angel, praising God for His glory in the highest and His peace and goodwill on earth.
The Jolly Season?
‘Tis the season to be jolly! Fa-la-la-la-la! The dictionary defines jolly as “full of high spirits, cheerful.”
- Christmas is known as a season of joy, especially for kids.
- But for many people, it isn’t the jolly season we see in the Santa stories and holiday movies. (Maybe we’d be jolly too if we only worked one day a year and lived in a magical village at the North Pole!)
- For many of us, the reality is more “full of pressure and stress.”
- And then there’s a deeper level of pain and sorrow that can feel so real this time of year. For some, almost any mention of the season’s joy brings a rush of painful memories of loss or hurt.
What does God think about joy? For centuries some believed God wanted His people to be sad, and some even whipped themselves to show how humble and sorrowful they were. Is that what God wants?
We won’t find lasting joy in gifts. We won’t find it in money, entertainment or leisure. We won’t even find it in Christmas, Easter or our birthdays. All those things can be joyful, but none of them is the source of joy.
So what is the source, the wellspring, of joy? The Savior.
The angel announced good news of great joy for all people: a Savior had been born, Christ the Lord.
How Is a Baby the Source of All Joy?
Look at what was prophesied about Him.
Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would comfort those who mourn, giving them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair, so that they’d be called oaks of righteousness, planted by the LORD to display His glory (Isaiah 61:3).
- That’s what God loves to do: hand out joy!
- What a God to know!
- And He loves to give us joy because it glorifies Him. When His inner joy pours out of us, people notice, and we get to tell them where it comes from.
David wrote that God shows us the path of life; in His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
- The happiest you could ever be is simply standing before Jesus.
- Being connected with Him is being connected to the source of all joy.
People sometimes say, “There’s no fun in church.” How can that be, when Jesus said the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, but He came so that we may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10)?
A Savior
He is truly the Savior of our lives. A savior is one who rescues, redeems, preserves and protects. Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).
- God wants to rescue all of us from a meaningless existence.
- He wants to rescue us from the mediocre, from misery.
- That’s why Jesus came into the world: to save us from our sins. And as He does, we begin to savor life and understand its value: the goodness of life, the value of relationships.
Tomorrow you may open a pile of wonderful gifts. But tonight, God has given you His Son, the Savior.
In Him you’ll find everything you need for life, joy and satisfaction.
And this isn’t just for people who don’t yet know the Lord. Those of us who already know Him still need Him to be our Savior every single day. We live in a fallen world, and each day needs His rescue and redemption, which we only find in Him.
(If this season is painful for you, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to pretend. Jesus came for the brokenhearted, Isaiah 61:1. Bring Him your sorrow tonight.)
Grace Takeaway
The angels didn’t announce a jolly season; they announced a Savior, and with Him, great joy for all people. Gifts, money and holidays can’t be the source of joy, but Jesus can. He came to rescue us from sin and from a joyless, meaningless life, and to bring us into His presence, where there is fullness of joy. Whatever this season holds for you, the best gift has already been given. Receive Him.
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