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Joy to the World!


C.S. Lewis wrote that joy is the 'serious business of heaven'.

Could there be anything more joyous for us than Christ's coming into the world to procure redemption for mankind?

The promise of His coming is found right at the outset of the Old Testament (Genesis 3:15). He would come to crush the head of Satan and that is precisely what He did on the cross:

  ...having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 
Colossians 2:14-15 (NIV)

No wonder the angel proclaimed this message to the shepherds in Bethlehem that night:

 Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord!
Luke 2:10-11 (NKJV)

 The people were to rejoice in the birth of the Messiah! The whole problem of sin, which to this day has metastasized like cancer in the human race, would be atoned for once and for all by the Christ who was wrapped in swaddling clothes and found lying in a manger!

Isaac Watts' magnificent carol expresses this theme of joy!   

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

In the video below, Bible teacher Christine Darg examines the timing of the Saviour's birth. While she is not dogmatic, she proposes that Christ was born during the Feast of the Tabernacles, the Jewish feast of joy. Please take time to watch!

Have a joyful Christmas!



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