Joy
Read Luke 2:1-20.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]
15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
Merry Christmas! We have been preparing our hearts and minds over the last few weeks to celebrate this day rightly, and it is finally here. Today, we celebrate the coming of hope, peace, love, and joy.
We’ve spent time meditating on the hope that came with His arrival—hope for the Israelites, after waiting hundreds of years for their promised Savior, and hope for us now. We talked about peace—the reminders given to Mary and the shepherds not to be afraid. The good news of Jesus has brought a peace to the world that was previously unimaginable. He also brought with Him love. In fact, He didn’t just bring love, He embodied it. He has given us a new example of love—one we can now receive and then imitate through prayer and hospitality. And this week, we’ve moved toward this day of celebration by talking about joy. Oh, what joy we have in Christ Jesus! Joy that outlasts worldly happiness, and instead roots us in deep and assured gladness.
We have much to celebrate today, but what’s next? Though the festivities will end and the decorations will be put away, He should continue to be the focal point of our attention. During these last 25 days, we have marked Christ’s first advent—His first coming. But now, we shift our focus to His second advent—when He fulfills His promise to one day come again!
“I am going to show you a secret, John,” Jesus said, “about when I come back. Write down what you see so God’s children can read it, and wait with happy excitement. I’m on my way...I’ll be there soon.”4
JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
Jesus is coming back. We don’t know when, but He is coming. Soon we will worship our King forever in the ways He deserves. And so we pray—come, Lord Jesus, come!
[Matt Chandler (2021). (p. 63). Family Advent Devotional - Bible Study eBook. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]