The post appeared first on Jacqueline Heider’s blog, jacquelineheider.com
Joy! One of my favorite words of Christmas. Within these three lovely letters reside delight, pleasure, and sheer bliss. But how? How does this petite word of Christmas pack such a potent and powerful punch? The answer, knitted together and hidden in the secret place of a young virgin girl, would bring joy, inexplicable joy, to many.
First, this joy-laden boy would fill Elizabeth and the soon born John the Baptist with great delight as each of their spirits were kindled with glee at the mere presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb.
Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Did you noticed the tone of this passage? There was exceeding joy in being in the presence of the unborn King of Kings!
Then there was the joy of Jesus’ mother. Mary’s heart was flooded with joy at the realization of who she was blessed to mother of for a time. Read these words sang from a soul overflowing with endless bliss:
Mary’s Magnificat
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Mary knew. She knew that this joy was not simply joy because a baby was being born, it was joy because of what this baby would do for the countless many who would one day believe in Him and be saved from their sins!
Yes, Jesus! Jesus brought joy on that first Christmas at His birth, but He would ultimately bring Joy to the World for what He would accomplish while on earth.
The joy of Jesus comes not from a baby being born in a manger; the joy of Jesus comes because the crown prince of Heaven was born, lived, died, and then conquered death!
Yes, the paradox of the all-surpassing joy of Jesus is that our delight comes in His death and resurrection. His pain ushered in joy for believers. Not joy because of favorable circumstances, gifts received, or ho-ho-hos that bring holly and happy. True and lasting joy fills us because of the wondrous work of King Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus was born. Jesus lived. Jesus conquered death. Jesus is coming again. This is our great joy!
Yes, this one petite word packs a potent and powerful punch! Joy! Joy to the World the Lord is come! Joy to the earth the Savior reigns!
Sing a song of joy and praise this day! Our Savior, the Crown-prince of Heaven came for us and died for us. He is our great joy! Merry Christmas!
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Lyrics by Isaac Watts 1719
