Advent: Joy

 What brings you joy in 2020?
What brings you joy when you're at your breaking point?

Perhaps those seem like the same question after the year you've had.  If so, then you need to look at the third Advent candle.  Candle one is Hope, candle two is Love and candle three is Joy.

The Christmas season is very often described as a season of joy.  Many of our most joyful moments have come at this time of year.  But what is it about Christmas that brings us real joy?  What is it about Christmas that is so joyful this year?  What is it about Christmas that promises to bring us joy in whatever circumstance we find ourselves?

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn."
-O Holy Night

If we honestly look at the world we can see and feel that it is lying in sin and error.  We can see that it is full of souls searching for worth.  If ever in my lifetime, this year the world feels weary; weary of sickness, infighting, politics, racism, isolation, fear, etc.

What is this hope that makes the weary world rejoice?  What is it about Jesus that makes our soul feel its worth?  What is this new and glorious morn that is breaking into existence yonder?

Our world, we, need what Christmas inaugurated.  We need to hear the good news of "New Management Coming Soon".  We need to know that a king has been born into the world.  We need to know about the humble baby that has come to earth and will return to earth as triumphant king!

The joy of Christmas isn't just that the Savior came to earth to save us from the penalty of our sins.  Oh, it is that, but it is much more.  Christmas is about what the magi said: a king has been born.  Jesus is our king who has come and will come again to rule perfectly.  This good news is so poignant, so relevant, so important for us to hear in 2020.

"No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found..."
-Joy to the World

This oft skipped verse of Joy to the World holds a key to finding joy in this Christmas during a pandemic.  Joy to the world is found in the good news that Jesus' reign reverses the curse.  No sins, no sorrows, no thorns.  The New Heaven and New Earth will not have pandemics, will not have infighting, will not have racism, will not have election cycles, will not have fake news: This is good news!

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.'" 
-Luke 2:9-11

This is Gospel.  Jesus' birth is good news of great JOY that will be for all the people.  The Gospel that Christmas announces and reminds us of is for all people.  It is joy to a weary world.  This truth is gives us lasting joy at our breaking point. This is a tried and true source of joy, even in 2020.  

Let your mind understand and your heart be filled with this joy today.