The Promise of Joy

A part of the traditional Christmas decoration is the word JOY. Its on lawn signs and stocking holders, on candles, and Christmas cards. When you see the word, “JOY” what does it make you think of?

Is it the wonder of children who enjoy the trappings of this season with such joy and enthusiasm? Is it the joy of time spent with friends and family? Or the joy of giving to one another?

I considered that question as I prepared for this week’s sermon. I read the account of Jesus’ birth, found in Luke chapter 2. As I read, one thing became clear to me- plain old ‘joy’ undersells the true majesty of this season.

So my prayer and my first point this morning is that:

1. This Christmas you may know, not just joy, but great joy.

David Mathis, the executive editor for Desiring God.org shares,

“In the beginning, the God of joy made a world of joys — a creation full of good, altogether ‘very good,’ and primed to delight his creatures (Genesis 1:31; 2:9). As the work of his hands, we know joy. We have tasted his goodness in his world, even on this side of sin’s curse. We have experienced, however meagerly or infrequently, the blessed emotional surges of God-made delight — in a kind word, in a friend’s hug, in our team’s victory, in a cool breeze, in good food and drink. We know normal joy.

But Christmas is not normal joy. Christmas, the Gospels say, is great joy. Christmas is not natural joy, but supernatural. God set Christmas apart. He himself has come down in the person of his Son. The Word has become flesh. The long-awaited Savior is born. When the angel heralds his arrival, he says, ‘I bring you good news of great joy’ (Luke 2:10). And when pagan astrologers traverse far and find him, ‘they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy’ (Matthew 2:10).

God gave us a world of joys to get us ready for this moment when announcing ‘joy’ no longer would be enough. God gave us joy for Christmas joy to surpass it. ” End quote.

God gave us normal joy so that we could recognize and experience the great joy revealed to us in that first Christmas when the angels declared the good news of great joy for all the people.

The joy of Christmas is the joy of a promise fulfilled- the promise that God would send us a savior. This joy is deeper than every grief, every pain, every sorrow, every fear, and every pain.

Thus, my second prayer this morning is that

2. This Christmas you may celebrate the great joy of the promise fulfilled.

If you have your Bibles with you, please turn with me to our text this morning found in Luke 2, verses 25-29. This passage introduces one of my favorite Christmas characters, Simeon. He isn’t like the other nativity characters. The shepherds, the wisemen, the angels, even the farm animals housed in the stable get more attention at Christmas time then Simeon. And yet, few characters symbolize God’s promise of Joy more profoundly than this righteous man.

And so I would like you to take a few moments to put yourself in Simeon’s shoes as I share an imagined rendition of Luke 2:25-29:

My aged knees complained as I bent down to speak to the young child. His little eyes searched my lined face. The child was five years old, maybe six. Is he the one Lord? My heart prayed, and like so many times before, I heard God respond deep in my soul, “no, Simeon.” I stifled a sigh and smiled at the child instead and asked, “do you know child, that inside this temple there is a very special lamp? It’s beautiful light comes from pure undefiled olive oil that is sealed by the high priest himself?” The child nodded solemnly as his hand absentmindedly reached up to tug on my long white beard. I continued, “Shortly before I was born, enemies of our people, the Syrians, tried to destroy God’s holy temple. But a brave priest named Judas Maccabeus led our people to victory over the Syrians. The temple was recovered and restored. The fire upon the altar was kindled anew and the lamps of the candlesticks were lit. However, the candlesticks are required to burn throughout the night every night, but they could only locate one flask of the holy, pure, and dedicated oil. That flask was sufficient for one day’s burning.

It took eight days to prepare a fresh supply of pure oil for the lampstand. And, yet, that one day’s supply of oil kept the lampstand burning for eight days until the new oil was ready. As the lampstand continued to burn, the dedication of the altar was celebrated for eight days with sacrifices and song. Every year since, we remember those eight days of reconsecration of the Temple and the miracle of the oil through an eight-day Festival of Lights, also often called Hanukkah.” I placed my hand upon the child’s head to bless him, “May the light of your faith burn within you, child, just like the lamp within this temple. May you come to know our God and His promise of the coming Messiah who the prophets foretold.” The child rubbed his little hand across his nose as I stood back up. My old bones creaking in protest. As I watched him walk away with his father, the now familiar longing filled my heart once again. The longing was as familiar and as natural to me as breathing. It is a longing for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Years ago, God declared that I would not succumb to death until my eyes beheld the Messiah. Year after year, I wait with anticipation as my hair grows white and my eyes grow dim.

Under my breath I recited my favorite of Isaiah’s prophecies as I watched another couple enter the temple courts,

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”

The couple grew near, and my heart quickened as I saw that the young woman held a baby in her arms. And before I even asked my question, God’s voice spoke. Overwhelming joy fills me as I hear God’s “YES,” resound within my soul.

Unable to contain my excitement, I approached the family. “May I, may I hold Him? God be praised, please, may hold Him?”

The mother watched in wonder as I hold the precious child. Tears of joy stream unchecked down my face as I hold the consolation of Israel, oh God be praised, in my insignificant human hands- I hold the miracle of Immanuel- God with us. From the wellspring of joy within I praise God saying,

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

As a faithful watchman, I waited with longing and with anticipation for God’s promise of joy. And oh what joy, what wonderous joy, that overwhelms my soul as my eyes behold my Yeshua- my savior. And my heart morns for you little one. Your future will be difficult, for as the prophet Isaiah predicted- you, our Messiah, will take our pain, bear our suffering, be stricken and afflicted, pierced for our transgression and crushed for our iniquities. You- precious child, will give your life as an offering for sin.”

With these prophecies flooding my mind, I turn to the young mother. She is so young to bear so much and yet inspired by God’s Spirit I warn her,

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Her wide eyes study me as she drinks in the meaning of my words.

My gaze returns to the miracle in my arms. His eyes open and, oh wonders of wonders, he looks at me. My heart rejoices as I recall Isaiah’s other prophecy. And I think, Praise be to God, your future will also be one of glory. For the will of the Lord will prosper in your hand. After you suffer you will see the light of life and be satisfied, you will be given a portion among the great. In the end, every knee will bow and every tong hall swear allegiance to you.

I return the child to his mother’s loving arms and leave the temple courts with my longing finally fulfilled by the coming of God’s promise. (long pause to indicate the end of the story)

The great joy of Christmas came into a world full of sin, fear, sorrow, and suffering. The baby Jesus became our man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He endured great suffering so that we could have our great joy. As David Mathis shares,

“From his birth in Bethlehem to his death on a cross, this Joy was great enough to be born in obscurity, be laid in a manger, and have no place to lay his head. He would be rejected by his own people, delivered over by their authorities, and betrayed by his own friend. But this Great Joy could not be extinguished. It cannot. It is too high, too long, too deep — even for death itself.”

Friends, this Christmas, will you be like Simeon, will you celebrate the great joy of God’s promise fulfilled through the birth of His son, Jesus- our savior?

I have one more prayer for you this morning,

3. This Christmas may you kindle the great joy of anticipation for God’s promise of the second advent.

Because of Jesus’ first coming, great Joy is now with us to the end of the age. His joy strengthens us to face every fear, it cheers us through every grief, it holds us through our suffering. But our joy is not complete. We have the promise of eternal joy.

Now, like Simeon, we wait with anticipation once again for the coming Messiah. We await His second coming. We wait for the day when He will come again and bring heaven to earth.