Discover the Joy of Christmas: The Birth of Christ and the Prescription for Joy

Joy to the World: The Birth of Christ and the Prescription for Joy

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration. It is a time when we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The Gospel of Luke gives us the most detailed account of the birth of Christ and also provides us with a prescription for joy. Luke wants us to see that the story of the world meeting Jesus in the flesh is a story of the world finally finding full joy in God.

The Joy of John the Baptist's Birth

The story of the birth of Jesus begins with the birth of John the Baptist. John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who were both advanced in years and had been unable to have children. One day, while Zechariah was serving as a priest in the temple, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him that his wife would bear a son.

The angel said to Zechariah: “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. . . and he will go before him to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.” (Luke 1:13–17)

Even before the baby was born, the message was a message of joy. Through his angel, the Lord promised that people would rejoice at the birth of John because he would pave the way for the Christ. The joy God’s people would have in Jesus was so real and so intense that they would feel it looking into the face of the messenger — a baby still in the womb of his mother.

When John was born, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.” (Luke 1:68–71)

Zechariah's words reveal the joy that filled his heart at the birth of his son, who would prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. John's birth was a cause for rejoicing because it was a sign that God was about to do something amazing in the world.

The Joy of Mary's Song

After the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she would give birth to Jesus, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with John the Baptist. When Mary arrived, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:42–45)

In response to Elizabeth's words, Mary burst into song, which is known as the Magnificat:

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:46–55)

Mary's song is a beautiful expression of joy and gratitude to God for what he has done for her. She recognizes that God has looked upon her humble estate and has done great things for her. She also acknowledges that God's mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. Mary's joy and gratitude stem from her deep faith in God and his promises.

The Joy of the Shepherds

When Jesus was born, the angels appeared to the shepherds, who were watching their flocks at night, and announced the good news:

“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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10–12)

The shepherds went to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus and were filled with joy at what they had witnessed:

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)

The shepherds' joy was not just for themselves, but for all the people. They had seen the fulfillment of the promise of a Savior that had been foretold by the prophets. They had witnessed the birth of the Son of God, who had come to save the world from sin and death.

The Joy of Simeon and Anna

When Jesus was presented at the temple, Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was there. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. When Simeon saw Jesus, he took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29–32)

Anna, a prophetess, was also at the temple. She had been a widow for many years and had devoted herself to fasting and prayer. When she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke about him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Simeon and Anna's joy was a result of their faith in God's promises. They had been waiting for the Messiah for many years, and when they saw Jesus, they knew that he was the one. Their joy was not just for themselves, but for all the people who would be saved through Jesus.

The Prescription for Joy

The story of the birth of Jesus is a story of joy. It is a story of God's love for us and his plan to save us from sin and death. But the Gospel of Luke also provides us with a prescription for joy. In Luke 2:10, the angel announces that the good news of Jesus' birth is "good news of great joy that will be for all the people." The joy that the shepherds, Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna experienced was a result of their faith in God and his promises.

Throughout his Gospel, Luke emphasizes the importance of joy. In Luke 10:20, Jesus tells his disciples to rejoice because their names are written in heaven. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables about the joy that comes when a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son are found. In Luke 19:37, the people who witnessed Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem praised God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.

The prescription for joy is simple: trust in God and his promises. When we trust in God, we can have joy even in the midst of difficult circumstances. We can have joy because we know that God is with us and that he is working all things together for our good. We can have joy because we know that our names are written in heaven and that we have a Savior who has conquered sin and death.

Conclusion

The story of the birth of Jesus is a story of joy. It is a story of God's love for us and his plan to save us from sin and death. The joy that the shepherds, Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna experienced was a result of their faith in God and his promises. The prescription for joy is simple: trust in God and his promises. When we trust in God, we can have joy even in the midst of difficult circumstances. This Christmas, let us remember the joy that comes from knowing Jesus and let us trust in God's promises for our lives.