Joy For This Christmas
The characters in the first Christmas story had many difficulties to overcome. But the Good News of Jesus’ birth superseded all their problems. Let’s see what we can learn from the characters in the first Christmas story and how that can help us overcome the problems surrounding us in these days that we are living.
In Matthew 1:19-21, we see that Joseph had in his mind to break his engagement to Mary. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said this:
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
What Good News – Joseph could take Mary to be his wife, and this son, would be the one to save the world of their sins! Joseph experienced a radical change in his emotions. Now he was assured that God was in control of this situation – his engagement to Mary and the birth of the child. God spoke to Joseph, Joseph listened, and Joseph trusted God in what He said.
In Luke 1:12-14, we read about a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a just man of God, and his wife, Elizabeth, was not able to get pregnant, and both were already very old. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, and as in Joseph's dream, the angel said to Zechariah,
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,”
The Bible says that Zechariah and Elisabeth were careful to obey all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, but all these years passed without having children. What pain they had in their hearts for not being able to conceive. But now in their old age, God answered their prayers for a son. What a joy for them and what a joy for others. It was John who prepared the people for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Zechariah and Elisabeth never stopped believing in God and expressing their petition to God for a son in prayer. From them we learn how to pray and believe.
In Luke 1:42, we read of another encounter with joy. Mary visited her relative Elisabeth who lived in another village. Mary entered the house and ...
“Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.”
Mary responded with a song of praise,
Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
The two women, Mary and Elizabeth, enjoyed God's plan for their lives. When Mary heard the news from the angel Gabriel…
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:31-33)
…Mary responded with faith and accepted,
“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
This situation was not easy, but Mary focused on the promises and miracle in her life. The two women were joyful. We learn from Elizabeth that God always has a plan even though we have to wait on it. From Mary we learn acceptance of God's plan, to have praise on our lips, and to be used by God.
In Luke 2:8-10, an angel of the Lord appeared.
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”
God announced this great news to humble shepherds that were in a field caring for their sheep.
“The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
What joy for the shepherds. The Bible says they hurried to find him. And after seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened. They returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for what they had seen and heard. From the shepherds, we learn to tell others the Good News of Jesus and to glorify and praise Him with our lives.
Months after Jesus' birth, the Magi (the Wiseman) experienced much joy when they followed the star which then stopped over the place where the child, Jesus, was. The Bible says about the Magi in Matthew 2:10,
“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”
After a long journey traveling from other countries, a meeting with Herod, and following the miraculous star that led them to the child, Jesus, we see joy from the travelers - joy for Jesus. From the Magi, we learn to seek Jesus with all our lives and to give him the best we have.
Each character in the first Christmas story (Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the shepherds, and the Magi), had their own encounter with the joyful news of Jesus' birth.
We must ask ourselves:
• Are we a joyful people? Are we joyful for our Savior Jesus’s birth?
• Is the Christmas story personal to us? Are we within the story, or are we outside the story looking in?
• Is Jesus our Savior or is He only the Savior of the world?
Although the world is sad about what is happening in the news, there is great joy for God's people. There is joy in Christ. The coming of Christ is good news. Don't forget to be joyful for Jesus this Christmas. Focus on Him, His promises, and His great love for us. There is hope, there is peace, and yes, there is joy in Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to listen to you and trust in you like Joseph. Help us to learn to pray and believe like Zechariah and Elizabeth. Help us to accept your plan for our lives, have praise on our lips, and be used by you, like Elizabeth and Mary. Help us tell others the Good News of Jesus and glorify and praise you with our lives like the shepherds. And help us to seek you with all our lives and offer to you our best like the Magi.
Rev. Susan McKeithen, NBC Executive Assistant and Spanish Ministry Pastor Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene
Published: 12/15/2020
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