God's Story (Advent 2024) (3)

Finding Joy In God’s Story

Luke 2:8–34 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed

Welcome, beloved, to this blessed gathering where we congregate to hear and heed the word of God. Today, we find ourselves standing on the brink of an extraordinary revelation, a revelation that will illuminate our hearts and guide our spirits. We will be turning the pages of the Holy Scripture to Luke 2:8-34, where we will find ourselves in the company of shepherds and angels, a young mother and an old prophet, all rejoicing in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In this passage, we will find ourselves in the company of shepherds and angels, a young mother and an old prophet, all rejoicing in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We will encounter jubilation, we will meet Jesus, the bringer of joy, and we will witness the joyful response to redemption. In the words of the esteemed Charles Spurgeon, "There is no joy in this world like union with Christ. The more we can feel it, the happier we are."

Let us bow our heads:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your word. As we gather to study and understand it, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to receive your truth. May the joy of your salvation fill us as we reflect on the birth of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let’s get started on this journey of joy.

Jubilation in the Journey

In our passage today, we find shepherds in the field, ordinary men doing ordinary work. They were not expecting anything extraordinary that night. But then, out of nowhere, an angel appeared to them, announcing the birth of the Savior. This was not just good news, it was great news, news that would cause great joy for all people. The shepherds, in their ordinary lives, experienced an extraordinary joy, a joy that came from knowing that the Savior had been born.

This joy was not just for them, it was for all people: The angel said, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." This joy was not limited to a select few, it was not confined to a certain group of people. It was a universal joy, a joy for all people, regardless of their status, their background, their past. This joy was for everyone, because the Savior was for everyone.

The shepherds did not keep it to themselves: They went to Bethlehem, found the baby Jesus, and then spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. They shared the joy they had experienced with others. They did not hoard it, they did not keep it to themselves. They shared it, they spread it, they made sure that others knew about it.

What kind of joy?: The joy that the shepherds experienced was not a fleeting joy, it was not a temporary joy. It was a lasting joy, a joy that stayed with them. After they had seen the baby Jesus, they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen. Their joy did not diminish, it did not fade away. It remained with them, it stayed with them. It was a joy that lasted.

A joy that came from knowing the Savior: It was a joy that came from knowing that God had sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins. It was a joy that came from knowing that God loved us so much that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. It was a joy that came from knowing that God was with us, that He was for us, that He was on our side.

In our lives, we too can experience this joy: We too can know the Savior. We too can share this joy with others. We too can have a joy that lasts. We too can have a joy that comes from knowing that God is with us, that He is for us, that He is on our side. This is the joy that the shepherds experienced. This is the joy that we can experience. This is the joy that comes from knowing the Savior. This is the joy that is for all people. This is the joy that lasts. This is the joy of the Lord.

Jesus, the Joy Bringer

As we continue to examine this passage from Luke, we find ourselves drawn to the figure at the heart of this narrative - Jesus, the bringer of joy. His arrival on the scene is not just an event of joy, but a transformation of joy itself.

The angel's announcement: In this we see the first hint of the joy that Jesus brings. The angel tells the shepherds, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." This is not just any news, but good news, news that brings joy. The joy that Jesus brings is not a temporary happiness that fades with time, but a lasting joy that endures through all circumstances.

The joy that Jesus brings is a lasting reality: When the shepherds return to their fields, they are not the same. They are filled with a joy that lasts, a joy that comes from knowing God's love and salvation. This joy is not a fleeting emotion, but a deep, abiding joy that transforms their lives.

In the original Greek, the word for joy used in this passage is "chara." This word is used throughout the New Testament to describe a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing God's love and salvation. In Philippians 4:4, Paul uses the same word when he writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This is not a temporary happiness, but a lasting joy that comes from knowing God's love and salvation.

Philippians 4:4 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Joyful Response to Redemption

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the spirit of Advent, we now turn our attention to the Joyful Response to Redemption. This is the joy that springs forth from the realization of our redemption through Christ. It is the joy that transcends human understanding, the joy that is not dependent on our circumstances but is anchored in the unchanging nature of God's love and faithfulness.

A reaction to the redemption we have received through Christ: It is not a joy we manufacture ourselves, but a joy that is birthed in us as we comprehend the magnitude of God's love and the depth of His sacrifice for us. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, underscores this when he writes, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Ephesians 1:7 ). The redemption we have in Christ is not a result of our own efforts but is a gift of God's grace. And as we grasp this truth, joy wells up within us, a joy that is as deep and as wide as the grace we have received.

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Our response to this redemption is not passive but active: It is not a joy that we keep to ourselves but a joy that we share with others. This is beautifully illustrated in the parable of the lost coin, where the woman, upon finding her lost coin, calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her (Luke 15:8-10). Our joy in redemption is not a solitary joy but a communal joy, a joy that is magnified when shared.

Quote: The words of the renowned Christian author, C.S. Lewis, resonate deeply with this idea. He wrote, "Joy is the serious business of Heaven." Our redemption is not a trivial matter but the serious business of Heaven, and our response should reflect this. Our joy should be a serious joy, a joy that is grounded in the reality of our redemption and the certainty of our eternal destiny.

It’s transformative: It changes us from the inside out. The joy of redemption is not a superficial happiness that fades with time but a deep-seated joy that permeates every aspect of our lives. It changes our perspective, our priorities, and our purpose. It transforms our hearts, our homes, and our habits. It is a joy that compels us to live differently, to love deeply, and to serve selflessly.

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Application

As we close our time together today, let's take a moment to reflect on the joy that comes from knowing Jesus, our Savior. The shepherds in our passage didn't just hear the good news, they acted on it. They hurried to find the baby Jesus, and having found Him, they couldn't help but spread the word. They were filled with a joy that couldn't be contained, a joy that comes from encountering the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ.

That same joy is available to each one of us today. No matter what we're facing, no matter how dark the night, the good news of Jesus brings a joy that shines brighter. It's a joy that doesn't depend on our circumstances, but on the unchanging love of God. It's a joy that gives us strength, a joy that gives us hope, a joy that fills our hearts to overflowing.

So as we go from here, let's be like those shepherds. Let's hurry to find Jesus in our everyday lives. Let's spread the word about the love and goodness of God. And let's live with a joy that can't be contained, a joy that shines brightly for all to see.