The Five Words of Christmas: Joy

Luke 2:10

Rev. Juvenal Cervantes, Pastor
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Greeley, Colorado
December 19, 2021

“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.’”

Luke 2:10

I. The gift of joy is given to us in times when we need calm and reassurance.

Perhaps the shepherds were not used to good news. They were constantly guarding the flock against predators and thieves- one of thousands they’ve experienced in the past- when suddenly a luminous being appears before them and the entire camp is bathed in shimmering light. It is as is a portal into heaven itself has opened up and the glory of God’s throne room is pouring out of it into the dark Judean night. And in a sense, it is.

The same words from Gabriel’s to Zacharias and Mary were, “Do not be afraid.” I bring to you good news.

It is hard for us twenty-first century people to imagine how dark a place the world was before Jesus entered it. We have no idea who saturated with demonic violence, slavery, oppression, suffering, and injustice every nook and cranny of this world was before the baby arrived.

And what was the good news? The birth of Jesus, the one who was announced with three titles, “Savior, Christ, Lord.” A message proclaimed by the rejoicing angels. We read that suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14).

II. Genuine joy remains

What is joy?

Joy wells up from the deepest parts of who we are, whereas happy works its way in from the outside, based on our outward circumstances.

We can all relate to a time when we found ourselves in a difficult situation and we were reminded of God’s joy.

A student pastor in Slaton, Texas, my sister Frances, and I were returning from a trip to San Antonio, Texas. Frances offered to drive while I slept. Little did I know that Frances was going to take as snooze as well, however she was driving!

Our vehicle went off the road and onto 8 wooden fence posts of a near ranch and our car finally struck a mesquite tree, the tree came into the car about a foot and a half on the front end of the car.

I thought, this is the end of my college and ministry life. As we regained our composure, we noticed a white pick up on the frontage road. It was the rancher of the property we just messed up. He said, “I normally don’t come here on the weekends, but for some reason, the good Lord sent me here.” We hopped on his pick up and he took us to the bus station. I tried to pay for our bus tickets at the bus station and the clerk said, “We don’t take checks!” The rancher said, “Preacher, here is my Sunday offering, I’ll pay for the tickets,” as he gave the clerk cash.

I was upset, really, I was angry. I talked to God about it. Then God asked a series of questions:

“Who gave you the new car?”

“Who has the power to give you new transportation?”

“Who sent a rancher to be there for you and your sister?

I tried to reason with God: “But Lord, I was saving up money to spend Christmas with my family and give them gifts…”

Again, God’s voice:

“Is Christmas about gifts or is it about the One gift who can bring joy in any and every circumstance?”

My pouting turn to praising as I realized that God is above all and that he can redeem even a car accident.

“Behold I bring you good tiding of great joy,” the angel said.

The Greek word used here is “chara.” It describes not only the feeling of joy, but also the reason or cause of it. In other words, a chara is a joyous thing or event that causes you to experience joy.

Jesus used the word many times throughout His life and ministry.  He used chara to describe the celebration that breaks out in heaven when eve one sinner repents (Luke 15:7). He used it to describe what a new mother feels when she holds her baby in her arms for the first time (John 16:21). Jesus used chara not only once, but twice when speaking to his disciples about the future: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Christians are the only people that can grieve and rejoice at the same time.

Jesus made real joy possible. C.S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”