Unexpected Joy (2)

Matthew 1:18-19

Intro: Over the first two weeks of Advent, we have been reminded that we are a people of hope and of peace. We are a people who do not give in to despair but who trust in the God who is making all things new—and so live in hope even in the darkness.

And we are a people who are not overwhelmed by worry but who live into the peace of God, which calms our fears and will one day bring wholeness to all creation.

This week, we are invited to remember that we are also a people of joy. This time of year is a time of celebration. We celebrate with family and friends. We open gifts, share stories, and enjoy each other’s company. But for many of us, it is also a time of sorrow and grief. During our celebration, we remember the ones who are not here—those who could not make it and those who have died. The darkness of the world sometimes seems to seep into our hearts, and we grow weary and tired. Circumstances threaten to steal our joy.

Matthew 1:18–19 invites us to be people of joy and to find joy in times and places we might not expect it.

Think about it—how often do the most unexpected things lead to the most joy? How often do the most unusual, seemingly uninteresting things bring the most pure and unbridled joy to our hearts?

Invite to stand, read the passage.

Transition: The Word of God for the people of God—“Thanks be to God.”

Prayer

When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he was shocked. His whole world had just been turned upside down. He must have felt betrayed, confused, and hurt. This news hit him like a ton of bricks out of nowhere!

Understandably so! Joseph initially thought Mary had been unfaithful to him. If he went through with this marriage, he would be publicly shamed. Even so, he still tried to protect Mary—he was going to sever his legal ties to her quietly so that she wouldn’t be publicly ridiculed.

I can only imagine the inner turmoil. He probably thought… “Why is this happening to ME?” Like—what are the odds?

It’s so good to know that God didn’t leave Joseph in that shameful place. We know the story—an angel appeared to him in a dream to put his mind at ease. The angel told him that Mary’s pregnancy was the work of God. Mary hadn’t been unfaithful, but had entrusted herself to God to be used as an instrument of God’s salvation.

The circumstances didn’t change—the shame of the pregnancy did not go away—but Joseph and Mary experienced joy knowing God was at work to bring hope and peace.

Let’s not sugar coat it—It wasn’t easy, but they knew that through THEM, the hope of all the earth was coming, and they could rejoice even through the hardship.

That first Christmas was a messy one. And you know what? Many of us will have a messy Christmas. Some of us feel helpless in a world of injustice and violence.

Some of us are grieving the loss of loved ones. Some of us are under a lot of pressure, and it seems there is no end in sight. Some of us are bent under the crushing weight of hard realities.

Some of us are heartbroken over strained or broken relationships. Let’s be honest—this Christmas, when it should be a time of happiness, there will be those whose thoughts will be dominated by those not seated around the table—empty chairs that are empty because we’ve said goodbye, and goodbye to those we never got to meet.

There will be some trees not surrounded with gifts, and some houses will be freezing cold. Some will struggle with mental health issues and addictions. A lot of folks would describe their Christmas as “unhappy at the most wonderful time of the year.”

Happiness depends on happenings. When life is good, we know happiness. But when life is hard, it’s natural for us to lose that sense of happiness.

Joy isn’t the same thing as happiness. It’s more than being in a happy mood. It’s deeper than the temporary satisfaction from a stroke of good luck, or personal achievement, or getting something you want.

If our joy depends on our favorable circumstances, it will be great while the good times roll, but it will come to a screeching halt when the good times end.

Advent joy isn’t about happiness that comes from good times, but again—it’s that deep sense of safety and freedom God’s people feel because of God’s love—which is constant, faithful, steady, and sure.

God is love, and He remains trustworthy through all of our circumstances. He can be trusted to redeem, restore, bless, and heal—as He promised. And like I said—He does this in unexpected ways.

True joy comes from a place far deeper than situations and circumstances. It’s rooted in something outside ourselves, beyond the trials of this life—it only comes through our life in God and His life in us.

In John 15:9–11, Jesus says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Again—True joy comes from a place far deeper than situations and circumstances. It’s rooted in something outside ourselves, beyond the trials of this life—it only comes through our life in God and His life in us.

This past Wednesday night, we discussed in detail the role of the shepherds in the Christmas story. They were unlikely recipients of the Good News—but this Good News brought joy in such an unexpected way!

On that starry night, the angel appeared with an announcement: This message is “good news of great joy which will be for all people.” All people. The Jewish people, the Gentiles. All—including the ones everyone else writes off—the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed.

And guess what the angels didn’t proclaim? A message of happiness. They didn’t come with a promise of an easy life. The angels didn’t announce that the King was bringing an end to Roman oppression.

For many years, Israel was beaten down under foreign empires. They longed for the Messiah to come—the promised King who would bring about lasting peace, justice, and healing. We see that in Isaiah 9 and 11. But when the angel showed up that night and was joined by the multitude proclaiming this King had arrived, the people were not expecting this kind of arrival and this kind of King!

This King brought about joy in an unexpected way too. He wasn’t born to overthrow human enemies. He didn’t come with fire and brimstone; He didn’t take the throne in Jerusalem and usher in some type of self-help program or religious reform.

Instead, He came to conquer sin and death—the root cause of His people’s suffering. He came to defeat their true enemies. Sin and death enslave all humanity and compel every form of evil.

If He had come just to overthrow Rome—they would have been “happy,” but Jesus went deeper. Joy. This was unexpected joy! Jesus was unlike what the people expected, but He was absolutely everything they needed.

No—The angel didn’t proclaim a message of happiness or promise an easier life. The angel promised joy—and it was a promise for ALL people.

Joy—because a SAVIOR had been born. A Savior! I hope you understand the depth of this! He came to save people FROM their sins; He didn’t save us to go back to our sins. He came to do a work that was so complete, so thorough, so perfect, so once-and-for-all that those who believe in Him and walk with Him can be saved utterly and completely from their sins. He’s the kind of Savior who saves from the power and dominion of sin so that we can be truly free!

Remember—I’ve preached about “salvation” several times since I’ve been here. Salvation: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. This should cause us to rejoice! This should cause us to sing, to shout, to jump up and down and run the aisle…

A SAVIOR has come—to deal with, to defeat, to destroy the root cause of sadness and suffering.

Unexpected joy—it wasn’t what they expected, but it was everything they needed.

Joy is not a matter of ignoring what is wrong in the world but of entrusting ourselves to the God who will one day redeem and restore all creation. In this season of Advent, we are invited to remember that we are a people whose joy is found in the God of Mary and Joseph.

We are invited to remember that we do not find joy by ignoring the sorrow, the injustice, and the violence in the world, but by entrusting ourselves and our world to the God who brings life out of death.

The same God who works all things out for our eternal good and His glory. The God who is Emmanuel—God with us. That’s where the joy is!

God is deeply aware of your sorrow and circumstances and has promised to make things right—until then He will comfort us and give us joy in the most unexpected places. Just like Mary, we can sing: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.” Friend… He is mindful of you too!

This Advent season, we are reminded that the Incarnation means that the first rays of morning have broken. The Kingdom is going to come in all its brilliance at the end of the age, and its seeds are already bearing fruit in the world today. They can be seen anywhere God’s people follow the command given to the prophet Micah: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him.

I said last week, “Peace can coexist with tears.” Friends… so can joy. This kind of joy is about being united with the God—Emmanuel—who walks with us. If anyone knows how we feel, it’s Him. We also trust that He will one day wipe away every single tear. The tears that no one else sees—He sees.

Joy looks to the future but is rooted in present reality. The season of Advent invites us to experience joy not because everything is perfect but because God is with us, and His joy is already breaking into the world. Rejoice in the Lord… I will say it again, rejoice.

Closing

Church, as we stand on the threshold of Christmas once again, hear this good news: Joy has come—not because life is easy, but because God is with us.

Joseph didn’t expect joy. Mary didn’t expect joy. The shepherds didn’t expect joy.

But in every one of their stories, God stepped into the middle of confusion, fear, and uncertainty… and joy broke through.

And He still does. Joy overflows from the heart of God.

Some of you are living in places right now that don’t feel joyful at all. Your Christmas may look messy. Your heart may feel heavy. Your circumstances may not change by December 25th.

But the presence of Jesus has already entered your story.

The Savior who came to defeat sin and death has come to dwell with you today— in your grief, in your questions, in your waiting, in your weariness.

So hear it again: Joy can coexist with tears. This is not a shallow joy. It is not a denial of pain. It is the deep, steady confidence that the God who came in Bethlehem is still coming to redeem, to restore, and to make all things new.

This week, look for joy in the unexpected places. Look for it in the quiet moments of prayer. Look for it in an act of kindness. Look for it as you remember the Savior who has already conquered your greatest enemies. Look for it in the assurance that Emmanuel—God with us—is mindful of you.

And as we move toward Christmas, may the Holy Spirit fill your heart with the same song Mary sang: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Church— Rejoice in the Lord. I will say it again: Rejoice. For unexpected joy has come, and His name is Jesus.

Amen.