“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.’”
Luke 2:10-11
The
story of Christmas is a key part in the gospel and is more marvelous and
incredible than any work of fiction. Yet many times Christmas seems like old
news to us and while we enjoy the season, the story of God coming to earth and
being born as a man does not seem to captivate us and cause us to rejoice as
much as it should. I see this in myself; it is so easy to get distracted at
this time of year. So, let us take time to look at the good news of Christmas and
the joy it should bring those who have been born again, and let us praise and
glorify God for it.
The
angels came bearing good news. This good news is the gospel which simply means
“good news”. And this is the good news: a Savior was born. He would be called
Jesus, for he would “save His people from their sin.” (Matthew 1:21) The angels
said that this child was a Savior who is the Christ (the Messiah). The
Jews had awaited this Christ for many years, and now He was here! Still, this
child was not only a Savior and the Christ, but He was also the Lord; He was
God. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the
Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a
son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” which means “God with us”. Jesus is
God, yet He humbled Himself and became a man! Paul says in
Philippians 2 that even “though [Jesus]
was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)
He came, not to overthrow the Romans, but to die. He did not come as a
conquering king, but as child. And this child would grow up like a young plant.
He would have no form or majesty that we should look at Him nor would he have
any beauty that we should desire Him. He would be despised and rejected, a man
of sorrows well acquainted with grief, for He would bear our grief and carry
our sorrows. He would be wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our
iniquities. We had all gone astray like sheep. Yet the Lord would lay upon Him
our iniquities. And by His stripes would we be healed. (Isaiah 53) Those who
turn to Jesus, the Savior who is Christ the Lord, repenting of their sins will
be saved. How amazing is the grace of God, that He would send His Son to bear
our sin! Jesus came so that we might be saved; and this is the gospel, the good
news.
This
news that the angels brought was not just good news, but good news of great
joy, joy that stems from the good news. A Savior has come and brought
redemption and we who know Him should rejoice in the salvation He has brought
us. John Calvin comments on this passage saying, “By calling it
great joy, he shows us, not only that we ought, above all things, to rejoice in
the salvation brought us by Christ, but that this blessing is so great and
boundless, as fully to compensate for all the pains, distresses, and anxieties
of the present life. Let us learn to be so delighted with Christ alone, that the
perception of his grace may overcome, and at length remove from us, all the
distresses of the flesh.” So let us rejoice in Christ and be delighted with Him
alone, especially in this season. But what does this joy look like? How do we
rejoice in Christ? Again, before can rejoice in Jesus we must understand
something of the good news of redemption. We must also realize that joy is not
a mere fleeting feeling, but rather a state of the heart and mind that is
lasting. To rejoice in Christ is to delight in Christ and to have pleasure in
Christ that is not momentary but lasting. To have more joy in Christ, we must
know Him more. We must also understand more of His work of grace and mercy. If
you wish to have more joy in Christ this Christmas (as we all should), take
time to open the Word of God and read the Christmas story and read of the work of Christ on the cross. Cry
out to God for more understanding. Maybe, instead of spending an evening
watching a classic Christmas movie, spend it reading and meditating on the
birth and work of Christ. This will help your joy in Christ grow.
As
the shepherds we should praise and glorify God for this good news of great joy.
The shepherds reacted to this news by making haste to see the Christ-child.
Luke 2:15-16 says, “When the angels went
away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over
to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made
known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby
lying in a manger.” The shepherds did not seem to doubt the angels, but
trusted their message, making haste to see the child. They did not doubt like
Zechariah did in Luke 1 when an angel told him he would have a son in his old
age. May we, like the shepherds, have faith in the promises God has given us in
His Word. After seeing Jesus, the Shepherds left proclaiming what they had seen
and heard, praising and glorifying God. “And
when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning
this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But
Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:17-20) As we see Christ in the
scriptures we should come away glorifying and praising God as the Shepherds did.
When we see the grace of God in Christmas, may we praise and glorify God for
it, and not only on Christmas but every day! So, our joy in Christ should
result in worshiping Him and praising and glorifying His holy Name, for He is
infinitely worthy of our worship!
So
meditate on the gospel this Christmas. Remember the good news of the grace of
God! And if you have never turned to Christ and believed on
Him, may today be the day: Turn to Him! Rejoice in the gospel and in Christ,
and glorify and praise God for His grace. All of this may seem like old news,
but let it sink in again. Even though we may have heard
the Christmas story thousands of times, may it not be old news to us, but good
news of great joy as fresh and meaningful as ever, causing us to praise and
glorify God.
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