In a world filled with oppression and despair, God broke in after four hundred years of silence. The ultimate hope for humanity comes to us in an unassuming and unexpected way. God invaded earth in a miraculous but quiet and gentle way to conquer the greed, insecurities, and fears of people. Where God’s kingdom is rejected, we find despair and hopelessness. There is an absence of real joy!
How often during the one time of year when we are reminded of heaven’s invasion in gentleness, it is filled with stress, growing pressures, and the possibilities for real disappointments. Expectations abound. Yet, looking back to that first Christmas, we see people facing pressures in which they discovered a joy that sustained and strengthened them. Christmas is the story of God coming into our world and living among people under stressful conditions but finding joy in their troubles. This season God wants us to experience that same joy, regardless of our circumstances.
Christmas can bring out the best and worst in people. That is why Scrooge, and the Grinch are such popular characters. It is a season of mixed emotions, bringing out the greatest hopes and reminding others of their greatest losses. In the first Christmas season, we discover moments of anxiety and difficulty intermingled with moments of great joy. Why does sorrow often come before joy? W. E. Vine relates, “Experiences of sorrow prepare for and enlarge the capacity for joy.”[i] But what is joy? It comes from the Greek word, Chara and means to delight. The Greek derivative chario means to rejoice. Another derivative is the Greek work Charis which we translate grace. Finally, another derivative of the same root word, Charisma means gift. So, the words, gifts, grace, rejoice and joy all come from the same root word. It is these concepts that define the meaning of Christmas. Christmas is all about a gift of grace (receiving something we don’t deserve). It is expressed in rejoicing flowing from joy.
During a busy schedule, many demands, stresses, and reminders of losses, we need to be reminded that we can discover the joy of Christmas. It should become more than a season but a life of joy. As we examine the first Christmas season today, it is God’s promises coming to fulfillment.
God’s fulfillment of promise brings joy even during difficulty and stress. So, what joy can we discover in our daily lives that will sustain us in seasons of disappointment? Often, we are waiting for God’s promises to become realities. Today we are going to look at two expressions and experiences of joy.
THE FIRST EXPRESSION OF JOY IS THE EXPERIENCE OF ANSWERED PRAYER
There is nothing more exciting than when God answers the cry of our hearts. Here in the Scriptures, we have a story of a godly couple who lived rather ordinary lives until two things happened that brought fulfillment of a longed-for hope in their lives.
1. The first was that Zechariah was selected by lot to go to the Temple and burn incense in the holy place. This was a once in a lifetime experience for a person from a priestly lineage. Men from the tribe of Levi were drawn by lot from among the thousands of priests to serve in the holy place and burn incense on the altar of incense.
2. The second is answered to a long-forgotten prayer. Now in the old age, Zechariah and Elizabeth are going to become parents. A miracle birth is about to happen. Who were Zechariah and Elizabeth? Why would God be concerned about an obscure couple in the rural hills of Judea, thousands of miles away from the hub of activity and power in Rome. They were a faithful, devout couple who had desired God to give them children, but unfortunately, they had gone past childbearing years.
God in His wisdom had chosen not to answer their prayers, in their timetable. There is nothing more difficult than to be put on hold by God. Have you ever had God make a promise to you as you were praying and reading the Bible? And then came the time of waiting, a time of testing? Maybe it was a longing, a desire, a dream, seemingly beyond hope. Then the answer comes. It is sweeter for the delay and the difficulty.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.[ii]
It is a source of joy. I wonder if Zechariah, a priest, and his wife Elizabeth had given up on this prayer. Had they forgot their prayer? I wonder if God’s delay meant God’s denial in their minds. Answered prayers have no timetable. Our prayers continuously come before the Lord.
Certainly, they were aware of the Abraham and Sarah story, but how many Abraham and Sarah cases are out there? Then Luke records what occurs.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.[iii]
In God’s impeccable timing, Zechariah is about to experience what every priest lived for, a once in a lifetime honor. He was selected to enter the Temple to burn incense. The altar of incense was within the holy place outside the most sacred part of the temple: The holiest of all. There at the altar of incense was a holy place of worship and prayer. It was while in prayer, Zechariah had a heavenly encounter with an angel.
And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.[iv]
God had heard their many prayers over the years and had remembered. He was about to grant the answer to a prayer they had given up on. What an incredible moment for God to move beyond the normal and natural. Their child was going to be given a special purpose from God. So, what was the result? He would bring to them great joy and a delight, but this was not just limited to their family, but John was to be God’s messenger to their nation.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.[v]
Remember what William Vine had explained about joy. Experiences of sorrow prepare and enlarge the capacity for joy. Can you imagine the joy that now was flowing from their hearts? This blessing was to erase the heartache and ridicule that they had experienced in their lives. In the context of the Jewish world, Elizabeth had endured the ridicule and shame of not being able to have children. It was a cultural expectation. In that society, not having children was interpreted as a lack of Divine favor and blessing. It was etched in the heart and mind of Elizabeth.
After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said. ‘In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.’[vi]
We struggle with many things which we have no control over such as a person’s intelligence or outward physical beauty. Maybe it is the family they were born into. Many people are casualties of values that they have no control over. I wonder if Elizabeth’s childless state had affected her attitude towards God. Am I really accepted by Him, or am I a second-class person? How often do we seem to allow our earthly condition to determine our sense of value or acceptance from others including that sense of worth or value from God? Many Christians struggle with a sense of value and worth because their focus is on themselves or their outward circumstances. Yes, there is a delight and joy from answer to prayer but there is also a joy in knowing our position in Christ. We are chosen by God, accepted, forgiven, given eternal life, and are joint heirs with Christ.
We can certainly imagine the joy of Elizabeth’s greatest prayer answered in a most marvelous way. Every day as she grew with child, the growing sense of awe and sense of blessedness increased. Every movement in her womb, she was reminded of God’s incredible faithfulness and love. God does answer prayers in His time and way.
THE SECOND EXPRESSION OF JOY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE IT TO OTHERS
Good news needs to be proclaimed. Joy in being fully experienced must be expressed. Can you imagine having something wonderful happen to you, but having no one to share it with? God designed us to be in community with others of like-minded faith.
A. Joy is incomplete apart from sharing it.
When we are excited about something, we want to tell those who are closest to us. Something wonderful happens and we want to tell the world. We want to share the news with those we love. That is why it is so important to have a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Jesus wants to bring blessings and grace into our lives. He wants to overwhelm us with good things for us to joyfully communicate with others. It is not so much that I should share with others but that this joy is compelling me to share what God is doing in my life with others.
Elizabeth is about to have her child and receives an amazing visit from a sweet and favored relative. Mary is also pregnant, but there is a social stigma attached to her pregnancy, so Mary comes and finds encouragement and refuge in the home of Elizabeth, who is also having a miracle birth happening in her life. It is there that an amazing thing happens as Mary walks through the door, the Spirit of God moves powerfully in the developing child within Elizabeth.
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’ … …Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.[vii]
Mary remains for an extended stay and receives comfort and encouragement with Elizabeth’s miracle pregnancy. It is far easier for Elizabeth to embrace what is happening to Mary because of what is happening to her. We discover something of the nature of Elizabeth as she celebrates Mary’s selection by God to be the mother of the Messiah. Rather than Mary’s favor from God diminishing her joy, it elevates it because of the shared blessings. There is no envy in Elizabeth, rather she is there for her young relative. She blesses her.
One unknown author has written, “It is a special person who takes delight in the good fortune of another person.” The nature of joy is that it encourages and blesses others. Joy is not something that you contain. It is something that spills over into the lives of others. It is something to be shared with others.
B. Joy is contagious.
Not only did God’s Spirit fill Elizabeth and she spoke prophetically, but even her own baby in her womb was affected.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [One of the results of the Spirit is joy]. In a loud voice she exclaimed, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.’[viii]
Even the unborn child experienced the emotion of joy. It is amazing what we are learning about the influence of our environment upon the unborn. They can experience emotion even within the mother’s womb.
What is this all about? It is about the condition that Christ brings into the human soul. Joy is the outcome of encountering Jesus Christ. One of the great attacks directed by Satan against the child of God is to cause us to lose our joy. The temptation is to focus on life’s challenges rather than on God’s grace. Could it be that the joy you once experienced in knowing Jesus and serving Him has been lost? It is joy that sustained us in times of difficulties. Nehemiah, an Old Testament leader, shared the reality that joy is what sustains us through difficult people and circumstances. ‘Nehemiah said, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.”’[ix]
Maybe you feel less than enthusiastic and have no joy or strength. God wants to bless you with His presence. It is the presence of Jesus that brings joy to our soul. So, how do we lose our joy? What happens to diminish joy in our lives? To a church that had lost their joy, the apostle Paul wrote to those at Philippi, where he points out a few joy robbers: difficult situations and people filled with self-centeredness and pride. These are some of the culprits that try and rob us of our joy. Paul challenges not only them, but all believers to develop a new mind set, to embrace a new attitude and outlook.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves. Not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:[x]
What was Christ’s perspective, or mindset, in the difficulties that He was about to encounter on the cross?
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.[xi]
Joy is what keeps us from losing heart. Joy comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus and not our problems. We either have a heart full of thanksgiving and joy or else we find ourselves focusing on ourselves and the result is murmuring and complaining about things. It is in the context of that great chapter on Jesus’ attitude that Paul is explaining in Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing,”
When we stop worrying about ourselves and start serving the Father by serving others, then joy will well up from within. It is a gift God desires to give to us. You will notice that humility and joy are always found together. Humility is an absence of self-centeredness. People who think too highly of themselves are seldom joyful. People who don’t take themselves too seriously and enjoy others as well as serve others abound in joy. Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with joy and gratitude for God’s great provision for their lives.
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.[xii]
John’s parents found joy in answer to their prayer. They found joy in God’s promised to send a herald coming to prepare the way of the Lord. That was to be John’s calling. Joy was not only discovered in what God did for them, and does for us, but also in what God does for others. What has God done for you? If you are a child a God, the list is endless. He has given us Himself, His provision of forgiveness, acceptance, favor and all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Joy is meant to be shared.
During a joyous season, such as Christmas, hearts can be sad. There can be difficulties, pressures, and stresses. In the preparation for the birth of John, there were challenges facing this older couple. John means “grace.” God’s desire is to bless you with His joy! You may be facing some very real challenges. Yet in the heart of the difficulty there can be the same joy that filled the hearts of John’s parents. The joy of knowing God cares and answers prayers in His time and way. There is the joy of knowing that God sees us. God can bring joy by reversing our disadvantages and blessing us unexpectantly. Though others may not see what we are doing, God does, and He rewards.
Zechariah and Elizabeth had probably given up all hope of having children, yet God heard and answered their prayers in a way that was beyond anything that they could have ever dreamed possible. What joy filled the hearts of that home as John came into the world. Yet, despite Mary’s joy, there was misunderstanding and relational pressures. Joseph considered divorcing her privately. We assume that joy comes only in favorable circumstances, but joy can be there in our hearts despite challenges. “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”[xiii]
For the heavy hearted, I want you to know that this season shall pass in your life. It is a time of refining and purifying. God will turn your sorrow into joy. There is a timing that is not our own, but God is truly the One in control. As we trust Him through the night seasons of life, the day will break forth. The Christian joy is found in a person, not human circumstance. Good times, bad times come and go…but joy can be our constant when we realize it is found in a person. What should our response to life be? “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”[xiv]
Don’t let sorrow, anxiety, and fear rob you of Christ’s joy! God will comfort all that mourn, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isa. 61:3).
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[i] W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words, Vol. II, 279.
[ii] Proverbs 13:12, The New International Version of the Bible, Zondervan, 2011.
[iii] Luke 1:5-9.
[iv] Luke 1:10-13.
[v] Luke 1:14-15.
[vi] Luke 1:24-25.
[vii] Luke 1:39-45, 56.
[viii] Luke 1:41-44.
[ix] Nehemiah 8:10.
[x] Philippians 2:3-5.
[xi] Hebrews 12:2-3.
[xii] Luke 1:57-58.
[xiii] Psalms 94:19.
[xiv] Philippians 4:4.
