In case you’re wondering, ‘Why is she writing about Christmas in late January?’ –I sincerely pray for your deliverance from such limited thinking. Okay, I’m joking…kinda. The wonders of our Lord and Savior’s birth are not reserved for Christmas time alone. As the body of Christ, we should continually reflect on this truth, repeating it so often that we can recite it effortlessly–even in our sleep–yet with such awe that the revelation remains new and deeply enriching every time. In today’s blog post, we explore the birth of Jesus and the boundless joy it brings.
Why is it a thing of joy that Jesus was born? I’ll tell you. Man fell from grace after disobedience to God’s instruction. The world became corrupted and evil was the order of the day…the order of every day, really. Worse of all, there was impending doom over mankind. Although man tried to atone for his sins with sacrifices, it still wasn’t enough. Those animal sacrifices only covered sin, they didn’t wash it away. The sacrifices only dealt with the implication of sin at that moment and not with sin itself.
However, Jesus took it upon Himself to present Himself as a sacrifice for our sake. Like a lamb, He was presented without blemish before the Father and slain to atone for our sins. We received the right to rejoice because at long last, the chokehold sin had on us was let loose and we were made free. (Heb. 10: 4-10)
Some people are born to be doctors, others are born to be teachers, musicians, or artists. Whichever the case, everyone is born to be something in life. It’s called destiny. In Jesus’ case, He was born to die. This death was and still is the best thing that happened to humanity. The angels rejoiced when He was born because they knew what it meant for humanity (Lk. 2:13). His death meant reconciliation to God, freedom from sickness, and redemption from the enemy. We are no longer slaves of sin. Through faith in Christ, we became slaves of God. (2 Cor. 5:18)
Moreover, because Jesus didn’t stay dead, because He was raised to life again, we have even greater hope. If all we had was the hope of this life, then we are not hopeful at all. We rejoice because of the hope for eternity Jesus has brought to us. The greatest reassurance man has received is that of his soul. A hope that after life on this earth, no matter how distressing, there is another life of eternal satisfaction. (1 Cor. 15:19-58)
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:19-20 NIV
Joy and peace are like 5 and 6. In Luke 2:14, the angels associated the joy of Jesus’ birth to peace on earth. If you have joy, you are at peace and when you have peace, you have joy. One of the things Jesus told us before leaving this earth is that He has left His peace with us (Jn. 14:27). The message of Jesus is the message of peace. How brutal would it have been if we all had to atone for our sins with our own blood. Even then, the animal sacrifices weren’t really fair on the animals. The constant bloodshed (which wasn’t sufficient, by the way) were contradictory to the Man of Peace Jesus is. However, Jesus’ sacrifice put an end to all of that brutality. Furthermore, the average Christian lives with peace because Jesus has said “It is finished”. (Jn. 19:30)
“How have I been living my life?” said every Christian ever after getting to know Jesus. Building a relationship with Jesus leaves you with only one question; how have I lived life without Him? There is real joy in serving and communing with the Lord. Man was not made to be independent of Him. The emptiness you feel is a void only Jesus can fill. The Apostles were tortured for Jesus’ sake, yet they rejoiced. This made no practical sense. The only explanation is that Jesus was literally their joy. He filled them up so much that even sorrowful situations, for Christ’s sake, became joyful ones. (Acts 5:40-41)
We share in the joy of Christ because of His birth, His sacrifice on the cross, and His victorious resurrection. The salvation, deliverance, and redemption we have received through these events are the very foundation of a believer’s joy. The new life and hope he gives us make the joy permanent. The joy of Christ is a daily reality, not just a Christmas story. And the message is not for a select few, it is for everyone. The joy is accessible to as many who are willing to receive it. It is joy to the whole world.
Faith+blog 