Joy to the World!

It was a night like so many that had gone before. Supper was over and as it was getting late, the night sky was quickly filling with stars. In the darkness, the large herds of sheep were settling into a quiet night of grazing in the fields around the little town of Bethlehem. The shepherds themselves were bedding down after a long day of watching over their flocks – when suddenly, an angel of the Lord stepped out of eternity and landed with indescribable glory right into the midst of their encampment.

As the shepherds stood in amazement, the Bible tells us that “the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Lk. 2:9, NIV). This “glory” was the light of heaven bursting forth in a way that absolutely frightened even the most hardened men amongst them. Here was light so brilliant, so glorious, so dazzling, that I’m sure no one could actually look at it – they could only bow down in reverent awe and wonder. And so, what these shepherds experienced that night was the glory of God expressed through an angelic messenger! Undoubtedly, it would be a night they would never forget for as long as they lived.

After the first angel made his appearance, I can just imagine the choirs of heaven getting warmed up behind the scenes to make their grand entrance. I’m sure all the angelic hosts were on tip-toe just waiting for the command to appear before the shepherds. And how could they not? Nothing like this had ever happened before! This was the long-awaited moment when the Messiah would make His appearance. This was the fullness of time when Almighty God, the Ancient of Days, the Great I AM, would step out of heaven and take upon Himself a human body. Just think of it! The Everlasting Father, whose presence fills the entire universe and beyond – the Eternal God who rules over billions and billions of stars – “imploded to become a peasant baby who like every infant who has ever lived, had to learn to walk and talk and dress himself” (Philip Yancey).

But first, the solitary angel who had lit up the night-sky around Bethlehem had a message to proclaim. It was his job to announce the coming of the Messiah with all the passion and strength of voice he could muster. Like the sounding of a trumpet he called out to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy…Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10, 11, NIV). What I absolutely love about this announcement is that it is good news of great joy! What distinguishes the gospel from everything else is joy. There is no room for sadness in the presence of such wonderful news, for the angel said his message was one of joy!

Joy is what defines our gospel. Running throughout the Scriptures is the constant theme that fullness of joy is to be the hallmark or one of the main characteristics of God’s people. We especially see this in the apostolic pronouncements that say:

• "For the kingdom of God is…righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17, NIV, italics added)
• "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…" (Gal. 5:22, NIV).
• "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4, NIV).
• "Be joyful always" (Phil. 5:16, NIV).
• "You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him – with laughter and singing" (1 Pet. 1:8, The Message). Or "you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy" (NLT).

How we must remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news which comes to us from a good Heavenly Father who’s “love endures forever” (Ps. 107:1, NIV). And this good God, who tells such good news, wants us to be filled with a joy that goes beyond anything – absolutely anything – the world has to offer.

The Gospel of Luke tells us that after the first angel was finished, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel” (Lk. 2:13, NIV). It was as if the hosts of heaven literally burst out of eternity and with one voice began to praise God by saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace on whom his favor rests” (Lk. 2:14, NIV). Of course, ever since that day, hymn writers have been trying to capture the significance of what happened on that wonderful and holy night. One of the best was Isaac Watts (1674-1748) whose classic Christmas Carol “Joy to the World” is sung every year at this time. He wrote:

“Joy to the world! The Lord has come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.”

No one seems to remember how long the angels spent ringing out their message of joy and peace. Undoubtedly, anyone who was there that night would have been absolutely mesmerized by it all. I’m sure it would have seemed like time stood still – and perhaps it did, for when ushered into the presence of eternity, who would dare try to check the time? And so, when the angels were finished, the shepherds very simply and humbly said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (Lk. 2:15, NIV). Perhaps the words of the old Christmas Carol capture that moment as believers from every generation sing out:

“This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary” (William C. Dix, 1837-1898).