Joy

Introduction . . .

Use a video clip from A Charlie Brown Christmas, where Linus recites the Christmas Story. Highlight track 2:10: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

We have a lot of joy around our church, don’t we! Each week our worship gatherings are filled with joy! Joy can be a challenge in life, though, can’t it? That's why you see the malls full and the parking lots at bars rarely empty, and Christmas parties abundant. People are looking for joy, but they're striking out. Finding real joy in life is a challenge.

One reason why we are often so devoid of joy is that joy, real joy, is not self-induced. As many people learn this time of year you can't have joy by fighting the crowds (or even beating the rush) each December evening in a shopping mall. You can't turn on joy with a Yuletide TV Christmas special. How long with the joy last when you receive that must-have gift? Fifteen minutes? You'd have to feel sorry for the person who claimed to feel real, deep, abiding joy after receiving a Salad Shooter on Christmas morning.

Real joy isn't a goal or an achievement. Joy is not a product; rather joy is a byproduct, a gracious spin-off. We don’t say, “Let's all get together and do a little joy.” No. It's a gift, a response to something that happens to you.

You felt it when the doctor called to say the shadow on the X-ray was just that, a shadow and nothing more. Joy. A gift received. I have good news for you. You can experience real joy when the doctor says, “I’m sorry, there is nothing more we can do.”

You see, joy is a byproduct. Luke's story of the birth of Jesus (2:1-20) shows us this truth. “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.” Not much joy there. We are reading of an oppressed, occupied people.

Why were these people being registered? The Roman occupation forces can’t keep up with all of their conquered peoples without registering. Even if you were a woman like Mary, expecting a baby, you had to make the long journey back to your husband’s town and be registered. The Emperor said it. It was law. They gave no extensions for filing taxes.

And then, in the dark of night, a baby cries, out back in the manger. There is a flutter of wings over the pasture and the shepherds, huddling in the dark cold, are terrified. But the angel says to them, “Don't be afraid, I bring you good news of . . . joy.” Joy is a byproduct, but a byproduct of what?

Joy is a byproduct of Good News (Luke 2:11). Good news is the same word as “gospel.” What is the message, the gospel, the good news? In Luke 2:11, a Savior is here: Christ the Messiah, the awaited One is here.

To understand the good news we have to first know the bad news. And the bad news is we can not save ourselves from sin and bondage and death. The Jews thought Roman oppression was bad. But the real oppressor was sin (and sin’s whip is shame). We didn’t need a political hero to lead us out of bondage to Rome; we needed a Savior to lead us out of bondage to sin and to restore our sense of value.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior. The good news is that God sent His Son to be our Savior. This is the good news that brings real joy. Until you know Jesus--I mean really know Jesus--you will not experience real joy.

Joy is for everyone to experience because the good news is for all people (Luke 2:10). The Savior is for everyone. Not just the religious, but the secular, too. Not just the reverent, but the irreverent, too. Not just the righteous, but the unrighteous, too.
God is no discriminator of persons. The good news is for everyone; all can receive the gift of Jesus Christ. If you believe you’re beyond help, I have good news for you: there is a Savior! If you believe you’re past grace, I have good news for you: there is a Savior who gives grace. If you believe you’re out of hope, I have good news for you: there is Savior who restores your hope. If you believe there is no way out of your predicament, I have good news for you: there is a Savior who will take you by the hand and lead you out to freedom.

Joy is confirmed in the experiences of life (Luke 2:12, 15-20). Joy can be enjoyed no matter what life's circumstances are. “Right, pastor. You don't know my circumstances! Hasn't anything ever robbed you of your joy?” Yes, but not when my vision was clear and my focus was on God. The real joy is lasting. Your circumstances will not always be conducive to joy, that is, if joy were found in your circumstances. You see, the story of the first Christmas is old. Here is the same old story of political oppression and political violence, of those on the bottom who must obey and those on the top giving the orders. It was in Bethlehem but it could also be Beijing. It was Caesar Augustus, but it could have also been your boss at the office, the English teacher during first period, or an oncologist at your last doctor visit. We are always being jerked around by external decrees.
What do you do when your life is caught, jerked around by forces outside your control? Does your joy have to be demolished? No, because joy is not dependent on your circumstances.

Observe the shepherds’ circumstances: poor, menial jobs, left out in the cold. But, they were overjoyed (v. 20). Had their circumstances changed? Not at all!

Observe Mary and Joseph's circumstances: registration for taxes, ordered by the Emperor, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. No one more powerful than the Emperor. Nothing more fixed and final than imperial decrees.

When the Emperor Augustus commanded his registration, we know there were massive, numerous revolts among the Jews. During the time of Jesus, there were at least 60 cases of armed, violent rebellion against the Roman overlords.

I find it interesting that Luke does not report any of these revolts. Mary and Joseph trudge toward Bethlehem rather than rebel. What else could they do? Poor as they were, powerless against so great a force as Emperor Augustus and his legions, they went to pay. Think about their circumstances: newly married, accusations of immorality, the taxes, the inn with no vacancy, the stable, and the birth--all joy-robbing circumstances. But, there was joy. In verse 19, “treasured” means “to preserve” with an implied sense of value and worth.

Transition

Let’s go back to the revolts. As I said, there were at least 60 cases of armed, violent rebellion by the Jews against their Roman oppressors. But Luke never talked about them.

Deep, real joy is not the result of what we do. Rather the result of what God does. Mary started singing a song. The shepherds danced back to their jobs. People are joyful, because God has taken action. There is a force greater than ourselves at work in the world. We who are so sensible, down to earth, dull technological people learned that night in Bethlehem: Somebody else is active in this world. In our battles with emperors or with malignancies of body, mind, and spirit, it isn’t all left up to us.
Christmas tells us God has acted. God has taken initiative. God has chosen to be involved. Joy to the World, the Lord is come.

Conclusion

Do you have joy? Real Joy? Perhaps everything is not right in your life. Maybe there are secrets or deep, dark issues that trouble you. When Christmas is over, you must trudge toward gray January facts of life. Your strings are being pulled by forces greater than you or your efforts to control.

But, do you have joy? You can enter the Christmas scene joyless, but you can leave full of great joy. Why? Because God has acted. God has spoken the good news and joy is the result. “And that is what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

Invitation

What do you believe is robbing you of your joy right now?

Circumstances? Other People? Your Choices? Joy is a byproduct of the good news that is for all people . . . there is a Savior who has taken action in our world and in your life. He is the source of real joy!

I invite you to bring those things that are hindering you from experiencing real joy. Bring them to God and seek the Christ-child. Let Him give you real joy!