Advent-Joy:Luke 2:8-20

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not behold afraid; for behold, I bring you good news (tidings, KJV) of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11, NASB).

This is the third Sunday in Advent and today we focus on Joy. The Jews had been waiting on the coming of the Messiah since 586 C. when Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army destroyed their capital city Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed their temple and carried the people away into exile. From that time to the present the Jews were under the rule of the Medes-Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, their present rulers. The Jews had become a scattered people living throughout the known world. Cyrus the king of Persia allowed those that wanted to return to Jerusalem to go and rebuild the temple (See Ezra 1:1-4). It was a sad situation for the Jewish people. Some had given up hope. They were a people living in darkness without knowledge of God, and they had passively learned to accept their circumstances. Still, others remembered the words of the prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah that foretold of the coming of the Messiah; deliverer sent from God to free them from their rulers and return Israel to its former glory. The scripture passage that we have before us tells us that there is the possibility of joy regardless of the situation that we find ourselves in.

Before we get into the scripture, let us begin by making a distinction between “happy,” and “joy.” Although we sometimes use these words interchangeably there is a difference between the two. The word “happy” implies that a person is feeling good about their situation. To be happy means that a person has a good feeling because what they have desired and have been waiting for has taken place. There is an emotional relief of satisfaction. To be happy means that things are the way that we want them to be. On the other hand, “joy” is an inner peace and contentment that does not necessarily require that things are the way that we would like them to be. In the bible, as we shall see, joy is the experience of those that have an awareness that they are in the will of God. One’s circumstances may not have changed, but the person is content and feels good because they trust in the Lord to act on their behalf. Let us get into the text.

As stated before, the Jews were under the rule of Rome. Although they were in their homeland, they were not in control of their lives. They had to live under the authority of Rome. The people had to live according to the dictates of Rome. The Roman soldiers were constantly present watching over them making sure that the people paid taxes to Rome, obeyed the whims of the cruel Roman soldiers, and even experience having their taxes collected by their own countrymen that often cheated them. This was the situation that the Jews lived in when the words of the prophets were fulfilled. The coming of the Messiah was announced by angels, and their announcement meant that those who had anticipated His coming would have joy.

The angel appeared to shepherds watching over their flock at night. Commentators have given their understanding of the reasons that the angel appeared to shepherds. Shepherds were considered to be a low class people. They had no positive influence in the community. We will not try to explain God’s reason that the angel appeared to shepherds since God is sovereign. God does things according to His plans so that His purpose is accomplished. God has no need to explain His actions to anyone. The one thing that is stated in the text is that the angel has good news for all people; including lowly people like shepherds. The shepherds circumstances would not change, but they experienced joy because God included them in His plan of salvation. If we know that we are in God’s plans we can endure our circumstances in life. The good news is that we are in God’s plans and knowing this truth gives us joy.

Today, we live in a world in which so many people are discriminated against. People are misused and abused. They suffer at the hands of the rich and the greedy. They have no dignity in society. Their only value is that they do the kind of work that the people need them to do so that they can enjoy the comforts of life. Such was the plight of the shepherds. They worked a low paying job. They worked under harsh conditions. The angel appeared to the shepherds. The good news was for them too. The Savior was their Savior also. God has no respect of persons.

Every person has equal value to God. Why? Because every person lives under condemnation of sin until they believe in the Son of God. The author of the Gospel of john wrote, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge (condemn, KJV) the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17, NASB). He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18, NASB). Paul the apostle wrote, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, NASB). It is the freedom from condemnation that gives us joy. It is in knowing that we are in God’s plans that give us joy. Such freedom and joy could not be obtained if the Son of God had not come in the flesh; and die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and our reconciliation to God. Let us mentions some examples.

In Luke we read about Mary visiting her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth was an older woman beyond the age of childbearing. Elizabeth was pregnant with a son that would be named John. John would prepare the people for the coming of the Savior. Mary, a young virgin was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. When Mary entered the home of Elizabeth it was a joyous occasion. Elizabeth expressed her joy saying to Mary, “‘For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy’” (Luke 1:44, NASB). Elizabeth would hide no longer. She was still an old woman that was pregnant. Now she has joy because it has been confirmed that the words of the angel were true. She was in God’s plans for His purpose. Mary responded saying, “‘My soul exalts (doth magnify, KJV) the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior’” (v. 46-47). Both Elizabeth and Mary would face public scrutiny but that did not matter. They had joy because they were satisfied that they were in God’s plans.

The apostle Paul had joy while in prison. He writes to the church at Philippi. He tells them that prison is not an experience that he would have chosen. Paul stated that when he prayed for the church that he did so with joy (Philippines 1:4). Sometimes he wanted to die—to be with the Lord. At other times Paul also wanted to live so that he could continue to do the work that God had called him to do. The situation was difficult. However in spite of the circumstances that he faced, Paul rejoiced because the gospel was being preached. Paul knew that the hope of all people is that they are saved when they believe the good news. He would endure his circumstances with joy because he was able to carry out his calling to preach the gospel (See v. 18, 25; 2:2).

We experience joy when we believe in Jesus and trust Him to lead our lives. Joy is not something that we manufacture. Joy is not something that another person can give us. People might make us happy when they change the circumstances in our lives. We can make ourselves happy if we successfully accomplish the things that we hoped and dreamed for. Joy does not come from other people or our own self. Joy is given to us by the Lord. Joy is a reward from the Lord when we do His will. Joy is an inner cheerfulness and calm delight regardless of what is taking place in our lives. That the Lord gives us joy was expressed by Jesus in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The two servants that used the talents that their master had given to them to gain other talents were rewarded. “‘His master said to him, ‘Well done good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master’” (Matthew 25:21, 23, NASB).

We cannot change the world. We can experience joy. Jesus was born into a world of trouble and confusion. We can have the joy of the Lord if we believe in Jesus, trust Him, and do His will. I remember these words of a song that the church sung when I was a youth. “This joy I have, the world didn’t give it to me. This joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me. This joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me. The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.