Good News of Great Joy

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.” Luke 2:10–12

This is one of the most famous verses in the Christmas story. I want to focus on one phrase from this familiar proclamation: “I bring you good news of great joy!”

Joy!

Religion can take something beautiful and turn it into rote and familiarity. It can twist portions of the story until we miss something key. The good news is news about joy coming for all people. Oxford dictionary defines joy as “feelings of great pleasure and happiness”. When you think of Christianity, is that what you think of?

I can remember visiting a church plant near our home a number of years ago. It was their first Sunday service and we were interested in what they were doing so we went to check it out. The pastor spoke on Jesus being a man acquainted with sorrows and went on to explain that Jesus was always miserable, he never smiled, and he suffered his whole earthly existence.

I was shocked! What had happened in this man’s life that all he could see of Jesus was grief? We have prayed often for him. That may be an extreme example but it is not unusual. Because of the messages that we have relayed to the world many people think of Christianity as a religion that is not allowed to have fun. Holiness is thought of as a “killjoy”. And if we enjoy something too much it must be sinful! “Sinfully delicious…” But that is not the case.

God Created Mankind for Pleasure

We were created in a perfect world where everything brought pleasure. Beauty was everywhere. Food was delicious. Man and woman were put together and told to multiply and the very act that would bring children was created to be extremely pleasurable. God didn’t intend for us to have a boring, dry existence. He intended us for joy and Jesus came to restore that joy.

The Fall caused mankind to find joy in the wrong things, in selfish pursuits and sinful activities. Our desires were corrupted and we plummeted into small desires and lost the higher senses we were designed to pursue. C. S. Lewis, in his book The Weight of Glory, put it succinctly:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

This Christmas remember the invitation into joy. Jesus has arrived on the scene, His work is complete, and the story written is “good news of great joy for all people.” Enjoy your family, good food, laughs around a cozy fire—but most of all enjoy Him. Remember that He is the source of it all and He created these things for your enjoyment and He created you to be able to enjoy them. Turn your joy into worship find His presence meeting you in the midst of your celebrations. Merry Christmas!