Luke 2:7-14 And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Pastor Herk preached on the Joy of Christmas this Advent of Christ, Christ Emmanuel – God with us. In the visitation of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds on the fields, the Greek word for the phrase “I bring you good tidings” is “euangelizō”, meaning the good news and joyful tidings of God's kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings; the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation. To announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:—declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel of Jesus Christ). While we are to demonstrate the love of Jesus by the way that we live our born-again lives, we are to give verbal witness of the joy that is within us through Christ as the Holy Spirit has prepared their hearts in advance.
The angel of the Lord in Israel was bringing good news of great joy which will be to all people. The term “of great joy” is made up first of the Greek word “megas”, meaning great things of God's preeminent blessings; of things which overstep the province of a created being, proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, or derogatory to the majesty of God. Secondly of the Greek word “chara” meaning cheerfulness, calm delight: gladness of the soul, exceeding joy springing from faith and grace recognize. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines joy as the passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. The arrival of the “promised Messiah”, God incarnate [with skin on], the Savior who will atone for and take away the sins of the world; the gift of God given by grace and received by faith produces a glorious and triumphant state of great and lasting joy. Do you know Jesus Christ? Have you received Him as your Savior and Lord, experiencing the great joy of your salvation?
Jesus Christ is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:9-14).
Let’s continue Pastor Herk’s message on the great joy of Jesus in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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