Joy to the World the Lord is Come

How many of you were raised that there was to be “no laughing in church?” Those types of disciplines lends itself to think that our time together in church should be stoic, proper, and stuffy. Dearly beloved, we know that Solomon speaks of certain seasons and there are seasons of seriousness, but there are times to manifest our joy through laughter, gladness and a happy disposition.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;”

Michael Jr., a Christian African American Comedian shares about being seven years old and he was sitting with his grandmother attending church, specifically his first funeral. “Grandma, what about the man in the box?” His grandmother replied, “He’s in a better place.” “What kind of box was he in before?”

The black preacher was always struggling with flim in his throat because after everything he would say, he would “hah”. He said, “he has gone to see the King, hah”

I was in the Children’s Choir at church because I was a child. We would always sing, “soon and very soon, we are going to see the King” and I would look down at the man in the box.

Proverbs 15:23 “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

It is important that a Christian be an agent of joy in the life of others. Are you joyous because you have met the King?

How is your joy this morning? Note what I did not ask you. Are you happy? Happy obviously deals with the happenings in our lives or the external. We are going to be addressing today an interanl condition of the heart.

Enough said, let’s look into the story of the Wise Men and see what brought about the joy that we read about at Christmas.

Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:1–12 NKJV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Prayer

Message

What brought about the extreme response of the wise men? The Scriptures state they “rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

Interesting question. What was the scene, what were the conditions, why was there such a pursuit for joy in their lives?

When you think of the word Joy, we tend to associate the word with gladness or happiness. The truth is joy is more of a state of being than it is an emotion. Joy comes about by the results of choices.

Furthermore, we know that joy is one of the fruits of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

“against such there is no law”-you will never be offensive having a joyous attitude. There is a magnetism to one who has joy in the heart. Oh dearly beloved, our world needs joy.

1. Joy is Something Everyone Desires

Matthew 2:1–2 NKJV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When we really begin in a moment to study these wise men and determine how far they went to see baby Jesus, we can quickly deduce that you will never get to a place in life when you make this statement: “I have everything this world offers and I really do not need joy.” IN fact, and it is so sad to say, but you can have everything this world offers and not have joy and your life is totally miserable.

Between the words joy, joyous, happy and gladness, the Bible addresses the subject 367 times in the Bible.

Famous quotes about Joy

I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy. -C. S. Lewis

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. -Mother Teresa

The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again. -Charles Dickens

Joy is not in things; it is in us. -Richard Wagner

Isn’t it interesting to see to what far reaches one will go to receive joy?

Theologians approximate that the wise men arrived to see Jesus when He was between one and two years old. Now, lets correct some misleadings we are influenced by. We do not know that were in fact three men. We tend to think three because of the three gifts. Nor is there any information to support them being kings. We do know that they were probably astrologers.

Furthermore, we learn that these magi could have traveled from Parthia, Babylon or Arabia. Let’a assume they came from Babylon.

Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Star in the East,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1998.

1156 kilometers=718 miles

From Ezra 7:9 “On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.” We realize that the journey could have been as long as 4 months to travel.

Dearly beloved, this story conveys that these men had a tremendous driving force to see the baby Jesus. They ahd invested their time, efforts and resources to find real joy.

They were in hopes that the Messiah they had learned of was the answer to life.

Oh dearly beloved, it was Jesus they were searching for.

Jesus-Iesous -”Jehovah is Salvation”.

Verse 6 was the root of their desire as they had knew of the prophecy of Micah 5:2. A ruler described in the OT 2 Samuel 5:2 “Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ””

Micah 5:2 ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””

For hundreds of years the people of God, the Israelites had longed for a Messiah that would free the people. We know from our other times of study, they misunderstood Jesus’ mission-they were longing for an earthly king, they thought.

Luke’s account affirms the prophecy of old that was written in Micah 5:2.

Luke 2:4-7 “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

The Scriptures refer to these men as “wise men”. These men were from the East.

1 Kings 4:30 “Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.”

We also know that these men were of financial position due to the gifts they brought the baby Jesus. These were gifts that were costly. When we combine our knowledge of these men’s description as “wise” and we can deduce they were as well “wealthy”, we would deem them today as “successful individuals”, yet they desired joy.

We can gather an important truth from this reality. Joy is not found in our wits or our wealth, Joy is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Why did the coming of Jesus bring such joy to these men?

We discover by Jesus very name that

Joy came in a a Savior as we discussed, Iesous, Jehovah is Salvation. What did they need saving from? Their sins. With all that these men had accomplished in this world, the gain did not offset the get. They still undoubtedly carried guilt of their past that only Jesus could rid.

Joy came because of a Ruler

Furthermore, because He came as a Ruler. As wise as these men were, they in their wisdom, knew they did not have complete governance in the affiars of their lives and they knew Jesus was all knowing, all powerful, and in all places and could watch over them. They desired someone who would take control where they felt they had no control.

Joy came because of an eternal Answer in Jesus

In their wisdom, these men realized their finality. They knew they were not going to live forever. Let’s assume by this point in their lives (we associate age with wisdom-now, there are some old fools) they were realizing there time on this earth was eminent. No matter how smart, how savvy or industrious one is that does not exclude the fact that we all want to live forever.

Do you worry about the future? Raise your hands. Be honest. I am a planner by nature. I do not want to plan to a level of sinning on the side of the man in the Bible that planned bigger barns, but I do want to know that I plan by God’s grace to see after my loved ones future. In these men’s wisdom, they realized their limitations. Oh dearly beloved, Jesus in our lives is limitless. The Scripture states “whose goings forth are from “old, from Everlasting.”

These men were hopeful for answers to this life. They were astrologers, astronomers,

What's the difference between astronomy and astrology?

Astronomy is a science that studies everything outside of the earth's atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, galaxies; and the properties and relationships of those celestial bodies. Astronomers base their studies on research and observation. Astrology, on the other hand, is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affect the way events occur on earth. If you're interested in the solar system and the planets, other celestial objects like asteroids and comets, other galaxies and the rest of the universe, what makes up space, and the possibility of alien life or space travel, astronomy is the field you're considering.

American Astronomical Society, article aas.org

Well, all of that to say that these men were deep thinkers. These men had atleast at this point in their lives had hit a wall of understanding. What is life? What is the answers to life?

This is not the only place you have been exposed to magi or wise men in the Bible. You remember that Nebuchadnezzar wanted the magicians to interpret his dream.

Daniel 2:1-4 “Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.” Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.””

I bring up this background only to solidify these were wise men as the Scriptures term them. In their pagan backgrounds, they knew they had not discovered the real joy of life. They were on mission to find that Joy and they were seeking another direction to find that joy.

“Where is He who is King of the Jews?”. They could have heard stories from their ancestors of the power of Yahweh working in the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. All we can know from this scripture is the fact they had not discovered real joy by this point in time.

Joy is Something not Everyone Receives vv. 3-4, 7-8

Matthew 2:3 “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”

Notice how Matthew was careful to record a geographical and a historical setting to the story. He mentions “Bethlehem of Judea and He mentions King Herod Oh dearly beloved, Jesus, the Joy of Christmas came into a real world. Matthew spelled out the region, Bethlehem of Judea, but he shared who was in earthly leadership at the time.

Herod the Great was the king of the Jews at the time of Jesus’ birth.

For the people, Herod represented oppression.

Herod was of a mixed background, Jewish and of Idumean nobility. The family was a political family and they jockeyed for power in this period of the Bible. The family knew how to schmooze the Romans and Herod the Great worked his way into leadership over the Jewish people. Historians record a harshness in this family related to oppressiveness of the people in meeting the personal demands of the kingship and he killed actual family members to avoid rendering over the kingship.

“Herod the King “-oppression

Movie-Montford-Chickasaw Rancher-half breed whose mother was Chickasaw and Father was English. During the time of the Civil War and following, Confederate leadership oppressed him and made life tough on him to raise a family.

Dearly beloved, Herod represents the world today. They will not receive the joy of Jesus, the joy of Christmas because they fear what they will have to give up. Herod feared that he would have to give the kingship over to Jesus and that is true.

The one thing we must give up is ourselves to have real joy, the unspeakable joy that the Bible shares about. In the pastorate, I see so many times what I refer to as “fence straddler” Christians. In fact, they might be the statistic that Dr. Billy Graham referred to in our churches, the ones who are not really saved at all.

They wonder why they never ever really experience real joy and it is due to trying, attempting to play both sides of the fence, being of the world and in Christ and dearly beloved, it does not work.

Matthew 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Oh dear church, it is not what you give up, but oh it is what you gain.

3. Jesus is the Joy of Christmas VV. 9-12

Matthew 2:9-12 “When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”

When these men saw the star, they knew joy had come to earth to set me free. Amen.

Embedded with in this text are the “treasures” we gain in Christ Jesus.

“Gold”-Oh dear church, you have riches untold. You carry His name and all that is with that. You are adopted into a family of royalty, a family with a perfect name, and all the blessings that come from being His child.

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Frankincense

Frankincense was an incense used in the temple. It offered a sweet aroma.

Leviticus 2:2 “He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.”

The gift of frankincense represents that when we accept Jesus, our life is in sweet accord with our Maker, our Creator, we are holy because He is holy. When the priest offered the incense in the worship of the temple, it represented the holiness of the place. Oh dear brother, sister, if you have never asked Jesus to come into your heart and save you, you have missed one of the greatest joys in life, being forgiven and made whole.

Myrrh

Myrrh is an embalming or anointing oil. The oil was a preservative. Myrrh prepared the body to lengthen the time of decomposition. When you receive the joy of Jesus, you receive a preservative for all eternity.

The Rich Young Ruler came to Jesus and asked:

Matthew 19:16 “Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?””

Yes, that’s right, all of us want to live forever and rightly so. We were made in the image of God. Desiring to live eternally is part of our DNA makeup.

But like MOntford I spoke of earlier, like Herod I spoke of earlier, you are a half breed. You are born of God and you have been born of Satan. You have been born into sin. And, listen closely, God is prejudice. Yes, you heard me correctly. The Heavenly Father will have nothing to do with sin.

There is only one way to overcome being a half breed and that is being born again.

JOhn 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

How does that come about? Submiting to Him. NOtice they bowed to the baby Jesus when they came to the home. Bowing to Jesus meant they gave homage, respect and recognized His deity.

Submiting to Jesus means rendering your life over to His control for your life.

Do you want real joy this Christmas? That would be normal. Everyone desires joy. Sadly, not everyone will receive the joy that is offered in Christ because you have to give up something to gain. Accept the real joy found in the person of Jesus.

Let’s pray.