Christmas is only two weeks away. As you know Christmas is my favorite holiday, my favorite time of the year. It isn't a new desire and emotion, thinking back it has always been my favorite holiday. It is not just the gifts I would receive that has made it a wonderful time of my life. It is the decoration, the lights, the Christmas shows and movies that talk about the spirit of Christmas, but get the spirit of Christmas all wrong. There has always been an air of joy and merriment around this time of the year that always culminated with joy of being with family and opening up the gifts.

Now as an adult I still find great joy in this time of the year. The houses all decorated with lights, the songs on the radio, the beautifully lit trees in living rooms. I am filled with joy during the Christmas season but now it is no longer culminates in receiving gifts on Christmas morning in culminates in the reason why I am so joyful to begin with, it culminates in the arrival of the true meaning of Christmas, the arrival of Jesus Christ to this world, God taking on flesh, to take the sin of the world on His shoulders for me. This morning we are going to focus on Joy, which is an important emotion that does get lost in the stress and distractions of the busyness around the holiday, from buying presents, to baking snacks to planing family events and different social gatherings through out the month. It can suck the life out of anyone. This morning we need to focus on Joy and that true Joy has been recieved through the coming of Jesus Christ.

Let's look at Joyful Reception.

Advent-Joyful Reception

We have been taking a break from our study of the book of Luke to focus on Advent, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Each week focuses on a different aspect of the Lord's coming. We have been lighting these candles for the past tow weeks, each candle symbolizing a different facet of the advent season. The first candle is called the Prophecy Candle.

Prophecy Candle

This candle is a symbol of the hope God has provided to His people in the coming of a Perfect and Righteous King and Savior.

Prophecy Candle - Hope

The second Candle is called the Bethlehem Candle.

Bethlehem Candle

This candle is a symbol of the Love God has displayed in His promise and faithfulness in bringing about a King and Savior not only for His people but also for the entire World.

Bethlehem Candle - Love

This morning we will be looking at the third candle, the Shepherd Candle.

Shepherd Candle

This candle symbolizes Joy.

Shepherd Candle - Joy

If you notice the candle for this morning is the only one that is different, it is a pink candle. The focus for the last two weeks has been on the anticipation and preparation of the heart in the coming of the Lord, now the emotion and mode change. Now we are looking at the joy of Jesus' arrival. The obvious reason for this being called the Shepherd Candle has everything to do with who the angels appeared to first to announce the birth of Our Lord. Let's look at Luke 2:8-20.

Luke 2:8–20 NASB95

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Notice the angles came to shepherds and the news they brought to these shepherds was good news of great joy, the good news and great joy of a Savior who has been appointed by God to die on the cross to take the penalty of sin for everyone. What an amazing gift, what an amazing message. Here is the God of the World the King of all creation who steps down from His throne and is born in a stinky dirty manger, a stable, a barn, and the first ones who are called to come and see Him are not royalty, they are not noblemen, they are not religious leaders, but are shepherds. As you read with me they are not in houses, they are not with their families, they are out in the field with their flocks. They are watching over them and they are tending to them. They are out there protect them from wild animals and from wandering off. These animals are their livelihood and they care from them very well.

Now the question comes up why appear before Shepherds why not kings or noblemen or even the religious leaders who were to be looking for the Messiah and who were to be awaiting His arrival. Well simple fact is shepherds are a perfect representation of mankind. The normal everyday working class citizen. Jesus didn't come to be the Messiah only one social group He didn't die to take the sins of only those with wealth and power and only those who followed God's Law. He came to take the punishment of sin for all mankind and the shepherds here are a wonderful representation of the one's Jesus came to save.

As I have been studying and looking at the shepherd I have also come to another conclusion about the reason why God send the angels to shepherds to announce the birth of the Messiah. It has to do with the metaphor of a shepherd and the role of a shepherd. Throughout the Old Testament shepherds and shepherding play a huge role in the lives of the Israelites. Judah, the son of Israel whose blood line Jesus is from was a shepherd. He tended to the flocks of His father Israel. David His ancestor before he became King of Israel guess what he did. He was a shepherd. He went from shepherding sheep, to shepherding the nation of Israel. The shepherd has always been viewed as a protector, one who gives guidance, and a provider. This imagery was not only placed on the leaders in the Old Testament but the imagery was also placed on God.

David understood this really well. He even had a psalm scirbbed for us that points to this truth. It is psalm 23.

Psalm 23 NASB95

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

This psalm explains the exact role of a shepherd and David is describing God as his shepherd. That is who God is and this is His role for the people and nation of Israel. God is our Shepherd. In the New Testament we also find Jesus using this imagery to describe Himself as the Good Shepherd of the world and through the New Testament the leaders of the church are likened to being shepherds as well. Shepherding is a powerful illustration and metaphor throughout Scripture and the shepherds being picked to be the first to receive the announcement of the Messiah's birth is a representation of all mankind so in this sense we can even relate to the announcement ourselves. We are to rejoice in this good news and the great joy that comes from knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior.

This joy, however, or should I say true joy we can't find in and of ourselves. Joy is not an emotion we can just conjure up. Joy in fact first begins with the Lord. Let's go ahead and look at

Joy of the Lord.

For us to truly understand what Joy is and to truly have a Joyful Reception this and every Christmas we need to focus on the Joy the Lord has for His people and His creation. Christmas is a time when we can rejoice in what God has done and rejoice in the fact that God rejoices in this as well. God has sent His Son for one purpose to reconcile His creation back to Him and God's Joy as well as Jesus' Joy is in the fact that this can now be possible. This is not just a concept that is new to the New Testament. Look with me at Nehemiah 8.

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah is a Israelite governor who went back to Israel from exile in Babylon to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. When the wall was completed and the second temple was rebuilt and all the servants had returned from exile. Ezra the Scribe read from the book of the Law and all the people listened and they were mourning and weeping because they knew that what was built was not as wonderful as what was originally destroyed. And Nehemiah says this to them:

Nehemiah 8:9–12 NASB95

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

God was rejoicing because He had brought His people back from the exile. He was rejoicing because He made sure the temple went up and He made sure the wall would be built and He brought His people back to His land for their possession and for them to rejoice in His work.

God rejoices in His people. Still even though they had come back from exile and they Joy of the Lord was to be their strength true joy was not just placed in this moment but it was also placed in the coming of the Messiah. This is God's joy and in this we find a foreshadow of what is to come. Did you know it was a joy for Jesus to be born for the purpose of going to the cross. The author of Hebrews understood this.

Hebrews 12:1–3 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Do you see what gave Jesus the strength to go to the cross, it was the joy of His work, His finished work. Jesus was looking at the cross and as He looked at the cross He suffered the pain and the loss because His eye was on the prize, that prize was the reconciliation of mankind back to God. It was the joy of having a repaired relationship with His creation. That is His joy.

In Luke chapter 15 we find the parable of the Prodigal Son. The son decides to leave the comfort and splendor of the Fathers house and protection to go out on his own. To do his own thing. He asks for his inheritance early which is in essence telling His father I wish you were dead. After he squadrons his inheritance on worldly joys, which are empty and meaningless he comes to the realization he would be better off selling himself back to his father than living in the state he is in. So he goes back. Do you know what the father does.

Luke 15:19–24 NASB95

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

This is the perfect picture of how God feels when a sinful created being turns back to Him, He rejoices and their is a huge celebration for just one who turns back to Him. God's joy is in His people and in their reconciliation.

So the joyful reception begins first and foremost with the Joy of the Lord. This joy is then translated to us through Jesus going to the cross and dying for us.

Our Joy

Our Joy must be tied to His arrival. The reason He came was to release us from the bond of slavery to sin. He is a liberator of our sinfulness. Just like the angels told the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The child who was born in Bethlehem the city of David is God in the flesh who was sent by God to be the Savior of the World. The fact that God the Son gave up His place in have should bring joy to our hearts. He arrived for His sake and to bring us to Him. Just as Paul to the Philippian church in Philippians 2:5-11.

Philippians 2:5–11 NASB95

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is reason for us to have joy in our lives, He is the reason and His work is the reason. Our Joy is to be made complete in what He has done. Paul tells us through out Scripture to be consistent in our rejoicing.

HE tells the Philippian church this

Philippians 4:4–5 NASB95

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

He says this to the Thessalonians;

1 Thessalonians 5:16 NASB95

Rejoice always;

And Peter reassures the church to rejoice even in the midst of trials;

1 Peter 1:6–9 NASB95

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

If we know Christ we are to have Joy and this is easier said than done I know but the beauty of this joy is its source.

Source of Joy

This source is mentioned repeatedly by John in His Gospel and John records Jesus' words for us here in John 16:12-15

John 16:12–15 NASB95

“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Paul says his about the Holy Spirit to the Roman Church.

Romans 5:1–5 NASB95

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Paul in his letter to the Galatians says this

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.