Glad Tidings of Great Joy - Pastor David Kanski

Vibrate the event. The Supreme event in human history. The central Act of God in bringing about his good purpose, for mankind. The birth of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ. The most profound and unfathomable depths of the Christian Gospel are found here in this wondrous thing. That happened that first Christmas. The account of our Lord's birth is a story full of wonder and awe.

In the early 1900s, Charles, Gabriel composed, A Hymn entitled. I love to hear the story. I'd love to hear the story of Jesus and his birth how he the Lord Of Glory came down to dwell on Earth. He laid aside, his Splendor, his Royal, diadem became an infant, tender the babe of Bethlehem.

Cuz I've been meditating on that wondrous story this past week. One of the things that especially stood out, to me, was the message which the angel of the Lord proclaimed to the Shepherds that night of our savior's birth. This is the passage that. Nate read from Luke chapter 1 verse 9. We read The angel of the Lord suddenly stood before those Shepherds and the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, don't be afraid for behold. I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. For today in the city of David, there has been born for you a savior. Who is Christ the lord? And then just, as 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 to Men on whom his favor rests. What struck me about this passage was the joyous nature of the Angels message. I bring you good news of great joy.

This comes out even stronger. When we consider that that phrase I bring you good news could just as well, be translated. I announce to you. Glad tidings. I announce to you Glad Tidings of great joy.

As a Testament of the greatness of the joy of that announcement, this multitude then appears to celebrate and to rejoice and to praise God in response to those Glad Tidings. I knew that the Glad Tidings of great joy are for all people. This is probably why the message came first to Shepherds. Shepherds were at the lowest level of society in those days. As a class Shepherds were despised by polite Society. As a class probably Shepherds were. Les had less reason to be Joy than anybody. So it was to them. That the heavenly host a feud that night. Because if the message is for the shepherd's, then it must surely be for everybody. Put on the other end of the social Spectrum. We also see this theme of Joy reflected in the story of the Magi, the wise men. Who would follow the star from Eastern lands to come and worship the newborn king? Matthew, 210 tells us that when they saw the start they rejoiced feeding with great joy.

They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy, this is strong language. Meant to communicate just how much the Magi regarded this birth to be a reason for joy and gladness.

They rejoiced exceedingly with great joy, what did I look like, what did it look like for the Magi to Rejoice exceedingly with great joy. I guess this is why the him refers to them as Merry Gentlemen, right?

This is not giggling. Sighing, chuckling Joy. This is a shouting whooping and hollering Joy. This is a dancing. Leaving jumping up and down, Joy.

This is a laughing until you cry. Tears of joy.

These wise men were seriously. Joyful. At the prospect of the holding this newborn child, who was the Fulfillment? Of all their longing, anticipation.

And Luke chapter, one tells us that even John the Baptist while still in his mother's womb. Left for joy. When Mary, the Lord's mother visited carrying Jesus in her womb.

The theme of joy is prevalent all through the Old Testament prophecies.

Isaiah chapter 9 declares in reference to Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. Those who dwell in the dark land, the light will shine on them. You to increase their Joy. They will rejoice in your presence as with the gladness of harvest as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For a child, will be born to us. A son will be given to us and the government will rest on his shoulders. And his name will be called wonderful. Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting father. Prince of Peace, there will be no end to the increase of his government of peace.

Isaiah 25:9 proclaims. It it will be a Hold. This Is Our God for whom we have waited. That he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

The Salvation which God brings us through this promised. One will be characterized by joy and gladness.

Isaiah chapter 35, pics of the same theme, using the metaphor of a desert. Transformed into a garden. The Wilderness and the dry land will be glad. And the desert will rejoice and Blossom like a rose. It will bought some fruit fuslie and rejoice with rejoicing. And shouts of joy is the strength of that language. It will be Joyce with rejoicing. And shouts of joy.

In verse 6, the lame will leap like a deer at the tongue of the mute Will shout for joy. Four Waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

In a S-10, the ransomed of the Lord.

We Are The Ransom of the Lord, the redeemed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion with Everlasting Joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Chapter 61 of Isaiah beginning. In first one we come to that prophecy that Jesus apply to himself when he began his Earthly Ministry.

The spirit of the Lord is upon me. Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to The Afflicted. He sent me to bind up the Brokenhearted to Proclaim Liberty to the captives and freedom to prisoners. To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of Vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn. 230 to mourn in Zion, giving them a Garland, instead of Ashes the oil of gladness instead of mourning the mantle phrase instead of a spirit of fainting. And a 7. Instead of your shame. You will have a double portion. And instead of humiliation. They will shout for Joy over their portion. Therefore, they will possess a double portion in the land Everlasting Joy will be there soon. This is what we celebrate at Christmas. This glorious message announcing Glad Tidings of great joy.

All throughout the New Testament. We see Joy highlighted as the fruit of receiving this message. Acts chapter, 8, tells us that when Philip went down to the city of Samaria and begin, proclaiming the gospel to them. The crowds with one Accord. We're giving attention to what Phillip was saying in the results of Phillips preaching, was that there was much rejoicing in that City at this wondrous message. This Glad Tidings of great joy in the Apostle Paul. And Barnabas announced that they would be going to take their message to the Gentiles because the Lord had commanded. That this message was to go to the ends of the Earth and 48 of Acts 13. Tells us that when the Gentiles heard that they rejoiced, and glorify the message of the Lord in all who have been appointed to eternal life believed.

1st Thessalonians, 1 verse 6, Paul affirms. The Believers in thessalonica because though they were experiencing much tribulation. They received the message with joy.

Even the title, which the New Testament gives to this message of the Gospel could be translated as Glad Tidings. We typically translated as the good news, but it could just as well be translated the Glad Tidings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you understand why? These Glad Tidings are the basis of such great joy, we look back to the 1st of Isaiah's prophecies about the birth of Jesus in Isaiah. 7:14. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. And they shall call his name Immanuel.

As we heard in the reading, by Tom, this morning, this prophecy of Isaiah 7 was quoted in chapter one of Matthew's gospel. Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him, don't be afraid to take. Mary as your wife, for the child has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son. She will call his name, Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins. Now, all this took place to fulfill. What was spoken by the Lord. Behold the Virgin shall be with child and his son, and they will call his name Immanuel.

Which translated means god with us? They shall call his name. Immanuel God With Us.

This prophecy points to the most wondrous and glorious aspect of the birth of Jesus.

That this long promised, long-awaited promise birth. Was the entrance of himself into the world? Christmas. We celebrate the most important event. The world has ever known.

That God, the Creator. Stepped onto the pages of human history. In the birth of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ.

The book of Hebrews declares that Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his nature.

The Gospel of John refers to him as the word of God. The absolute and final revelation of God about himself to man. In the beginning was the word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The word became flesh. And dwelt Among Us. And we beheld, his glory glory. As of the only begotten from the father full of grace and truth.

That baby boy, born to the Virgin Mary on that first Christmas 2000 years ago was God incarnate. God In the Flesh.

Before the foundation of the world. The father and God, the son entered into an eternal, Covenant and Everlasting Covenant. To bring about man's Redemption.

And that Plan of Redemption could only be accomplished for the Incarnation of the Eternal Son of God.

From the days of Eternity. It was predetermined that the Son of God would become. The son of man. In Bethlehem of Judea.

This is the Glad Tidings that the gospel for claims. This is the great joy. We celebrate at Christmas that Jesus is God With Us.

Jesus came into this world to bring us the Supreme gift of God.

I've been reading through these, there is Bible passages this morning. Did you notice that the prophecy of Isaiah? 7:14? Says they shall call his name Immanuel.

so, when we get to Matthew and Luke, The angel of the Lord tells Mary and Joseph to name him. Not Emmanuel. But Jesus.

You shall call his name, Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Emmanuel means god with us, but Jesus or Joshua. As its prep pronounce in Hebrew means God, our salvation.

See before Jesus could be God With Us. It first had to become God, our savior.

He became Jesus to us in order that he might be our Emmanuel.

God created the human race in his own image for this purpose. That we might be capable. Of knowing him that we might be capable of experiencing fellowship with him.

From the very beginning, it was God's desire to bring us into intimate relationship with himself. And whether we recognize it or not. It is the deepest longing of the human heart. To know, God. It is the deepest longing of the human heart to experience intimacy with God.

But even though it had been God's desire all along. Goodnight, truly and fully well with mankind because we are a sinful Fallen race.

As Isaiah 59 to lament, your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God. And your sins have hidden his face from you.

This is why the Son of God came to be our savior. Before he could be our Emmanuel.

2nd Corinthians 5:19 through claims. God was in Christ. Reconciling the world to himself. Any fusions 213 declares that now in Christ Jesus, we who were formerly far off. Have now been brought near. By the blood of Christ.

Do his atoning work on the cross and through the resurrection. Jesus has opened the way for us into the presence of God. He has redeemed us, he has a ransom. So that we can dwell with God but not only to God. But we can be in dwelt by God.

1st Corinthians, 3:16 asks, do you not know?

That you are a temple of God. And that the spirit of God dwells in you.

You need to know that. And when do you know that? Like those Merry Gentlemen, you will become serious about finding joy in the Lord.

In John 14, Jesus promised that to everyone who trust in him. He was to give his very own spirits. Who would come to dwell within each and every one? In that day, says, Jesus in John 14:21. That I am in my father. And you and me. and I in you, if that's not Glad Tidings of great joy, I don't know what it is.

Like a close this morning with the lyrics to another hand. This one by Charles Wesley. Come Thou Long expected. Jesus born to set by people free. From our fears and sins release us. Let us find our rest in the Israel's strength and consolation. Hope of all the world. dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing, heart, born life people to deliver born a child and yet Born to Reign forever. Now, by gracious Kingdom bring