Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Advent is all about anticipation and expectation and preparation for Jesus’ Second Coming or Advent, holding in our hearts the saving work He began at Bethlehem as God’s promise that for us who know Christ through faith, His Second Coming will be a day for joy. Today, the Church observes Gaudete Sunday or Joy Sunday. Notice our Introit and Epistle: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice!” Our Old Testament Lesson says, “Sing! Shout aloud! Be glad and rejoice!”
Sometimes we don’t think much about joy and rejoicing. As we ponder the great doctrinal truths of Scripture, we somehow miss out on joy. We don’t feel like it has to be mentioned, after all you’re either joyful or you’re not. You’re either rejoicing or you’re not; and if you’re not, no amount of telling you to be joyful can change it. Knowing Jesus is joy and that’s that. It’s a given. It’s assumed, or so I thought.
But guess what? God’s Word is filled with reminders to joy, praise, thanksgiving and rejoicing! It’s filled with singing and shouting aloud and, even dancing for joy. The book of Psalms is joy from beginning to end! Even “the heavens declare the glory of God.” Even the prophets like Zephaniah never forget the joy of God’s promised Savior: “Sing, O Daughter of Zion; Shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart.” From beginning to end, God says, “Rejoice!”
Just think of the Christmas story, starting with John the Baptist! Do you think Zechariah rejoiced when the angel told him his elderly wife Elizabeth would have a baby? Can you imagine Elizabeth’s joy when she held baby John and insisted, “Oh no, you won’t call him Zechariah!” Remember last week, Zechariah’s joy when he got his voice back and sang for joy with all his heart in praise of God. Remember when the Virgin Mother of God our Savior went to stay with Elizabeth after Jesus was conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth said even Baby John was leaping for joy in her womb when she heard the sound of Mary’s voice. Remember Mary’s song of joy: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Think of the angel announcing Jesus’ birth: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy for all people!” followed by a thunderous angel choir praising God: “Glory to God in the highest!” Remember the joy of the first Christmas shepherds kneeling at Jesus’ manger. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice!” God’s Word is filled with joy! God calls us to rejoice – to sing praise and shout for joy!
This week I heard a Dr. Joel Primrose on KMOX. He talked about the so-called “holiday blues” as distinct from depression, but his main point was that this time of year a lot of people get bogged down. Trying to prepare the perfect meals and find the perfect gifts and decorate the house and a thousand other activities stresses people out. We instinctively long for the joy of simpler times, to be a child again, but we’re dragged down time and again by the onslaught of work, obligations, parties, plans, preparations, presents. For many joy is elusive – Life changes and health changes and family losses – make joy a nice sentiment, but not reality.
If that’s where you are… if your joy muscles are strained and the stress is etched into your weary face. Today is a good day – it’s Rejoicing Sunday. Actually, it’s a Sunday to remind us that every day we have reason for rejoicing.
So why should we be joyful? How could St. Paul write from a dank, dark prison: “Rejoice in the Lord always!” Because God has found joy in you! That’s right, crusty, old, ba-humbug you! God took joy in you! You and I, who don’t deserve anything from God, bring joy to His Fatherly heart! You and I, sin-encrusted curmudgeons, are objects of God’s joy and love and affection. Zephaniah 3 says, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
That’s a good reason for us to be joyful, rejoicing and sing! God delights in you. The God who created you and daily lavishes you with His love sent His sinless Son to be your Savior. You didn’t have to put on your holiday, happy face before God rejoiced in you. Our Joy-Incarnate Jesus walked the path of suffering and scorn and rejection and death to shine the bright rays of God’s joyous Light into your life. He let His own life be snuffed out in death at the cross to rise from the dead in the joy of Easter. We can only imagine the thunderous joy when Jesus ascended into heaven as our Victorious Redeemer and King. Jesus is “good tidings of great joy that shall be for all people.”
I’m not burying my head in the sand. I know that this side of heaven life and loss can strain our joy. With poor priorities we often exchange the true joy of a living relationship with Jesus for the daily drudgery of dying distractions, but here in Bethlehem’s manger we find “good tidings of great joy.”
Your God delights in you, calling you from depressing drudgery to His gift of true and eternal life. God’s Son assumed human flesh in the womb of His Virgin Mother. The Gospels record that wherever Jesus went during His earthly life He brought joy to those who received Him – the blind received sight, the lame walked, lepers were cured, the deaf heard, the dead were raised and good news was preached to the poor.
That isn’t to say knowing Jesus meant empty-headed giddiness, after all Jesus did say the life of discipleship would be one of taking up our crosses and following Him. But it is to say, in Jesus we have true and eternal joy.
God has rescued us from our sad lot in life. Our Risen and Living Lord invites you to “fix your hearts where true joys may be found.” The Holy Spirit guides us into God’s grace leading us to repentance and promising the joy of sins forgiven, life restored and eternal joy with Him in heaven through faith in Jesus. And in heaven we find even more joy – Jesus said, “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 righteous ones.”
Just think of that! God delights in you. The angels rejoice over you and all who repent and trust in Bethlehem’s Savior. The best part about it is – unlike most of our earthly Christmas plans – Jesus could say – and really mean it: “It’s finished.” Christ Jesus did it all. God the Father has given you His Greatest Gift – and it’s free! The Babe of Bethlehem is your eternal Savior. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice!” Amen.
And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.