I’m so thankful to be here today with you all, as we come together on Christmas Eve to celebrate, and reflect on the greatest and loving gift we could have ever hoped and dreamed for, Jesus Christ, the true reason for the season! Throughout this Holiday Season, Ken and I have been talking to you about how The Christmas Story reveals and proves God’s great love for us, and I’m hopeful that you have been able to take time, to slow down, reflect, and soak in that truth. That God loves us this much! That even though we didn’t earn it, and don’t deserve it, God took care of what we could not by sending Jesus to this world. He loves us this much.
Romans 8:3 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. MSG
That is what Christmas is all about. It’s God entering this world to redeem us, to help us, to do for us something we couldn’t accomplish on our own, Jesus is the greatest gift of all, He came to redeem us, to help us, and bring us joy. You may be thinking to yourself, “I know Jesus came for our salvation, and Sam tells us a lot that Jesus came to give us life and life to the full, but joy?” Yes, and He told us so.
John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. NIV
So, joy is a big deal. The word is found over 300 times in our Bibles. We talk a lot about joy this time of year, don’t we? We sing about it. It’s on Christmas Cards and decorations. So, we talk a lot about joy at Christmas, and it sounds great…but it’s rare to see in people’s lives today, isn’t it? There are a few reasons for this. First, if we aren’t living for God and allowing Jesus in our lives, that is a big reason we won’t experience joy in our lives but there is another. We mistake happiness for joy and pursue happiness instead of joy…and we find fun and happy moments, but we wonder where this joy is we keep reading about in Scripture, and the issue is we are pursuing the wrong thing. Joy is so interesting because we all want it, but we rarely experience it, we sing of it, read about it, and want it, but wonder where it is, and we must understand that happiness and joy are not the same thing. You can have happy moments and feel great in those moments and still not have joy, and you can walk through tough stuff, and not feel happy, and still have joy. Let’s quickly define the two…
Happiness – a state of well-being, a pleasurable experience. It is a temporary feeling. It depends on something external or factors outside of ourselves to give us a feeling.
Joy – to feel great delight or to welcome or to be glad. It isn’t a state or moment, but joy is true contentment that comes from something internal. Joy comes from God and our relationship with Him. It doesn’t depend on circumstances or anything from the outside. Joy comes from God.
So, before we dive into the Christmas Story can I ask you, are you experiencing the joy of the Lord in your life? Maybe the better question is are you pursuing happiness or joy? For so many of us, we want joy, but we aren’t going to find it where we are looking for it. We may find happiness, and fun moments, but not joy. Our joy is found in God. He is our joy; we can have this joy when we are seeking Him and living for Him. So, what do you pursue, is it happiness or joy? Let me give you some practical examples before we allow the Christmas Story to help us experience joy.
When we mistake happy feelings for true joy it can lead to devastating behaviors and a frustrating life. So just to think through this a bit, there are great moments in our lives, like when my daughter wins an award at school, or when we get to go on a nice vacation, or when my favorite team wins the Super Bowl, or when I get a big raise at work. Or maybe when I drink enough eggnog or other libations to laugh at all the things, I wouldn’t laugh normally during the family get-together, or just find peace and a good feeling in any substance. But I can also look at the challenging moments of my life, when I’m overwhelmed at work, or with the kid’s schedules, or when the car breaks down, or when a loved one is sick, or something breaks or leaks in my home and you just know it’s going to take some time, money and energy to repair and I can wonder why in the world I don’t have any joy. But what I have done is replaced joy in my mindset with happiness. Do you see it? Happiness is fleeting, it’s a moment to feel good, and we can find those in many forms, but joy is different. It has depth, and meaning, and is only found in God. Paul helps us understand that here in Romans 14.
Romans 14:17 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. MSG
Do you see it? We find joy in God as He sets us right, puts us together, and completes us with…joy. We won’t find it in material possessions. We won’t find it in alcohol or substances. We won’t find it in Earthly successes, or other people and how they feel about us. We will only find joy in Him. I believe the Christmas Story is a road map to us truly finding and experiencing joy and each character gives us another step to take to truly be made complete in joy.
Let’s start with Mary. In her story we see fear and anxiety, something that could block us from joy, and how to overcome it.
Luke 1:26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. NIV
We often think of the Christmas Story in a romantic, nice, and soft way…it was anything but that. It was intense, and everyone was afraid. From those who would raise Jesus, to those who heard the news, even The King, Herod, and all of Israel were afraid! Fear is a major theme in the Christmas story!
Matthew 2:3 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified — and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. MSG
The Christmas story is filled with emotion, scandal, fear, life-threatening journeys, and escapes…it’s far from soft and easy. I’m not sure God could have designed a more difficult and intense way for His Son to enter this world, and maybe that is the point. We talk a lot about fear, stress, doubt, and anxiety in life. Anxiety is the number one mental health concern in the United States today. We learned in the Soul Series that anxiety is a soul issue, it is how our soul is processing fear. Fear and anxiety are major blockers to us experiencing joy, and Mary in this incredibly intense moment, shows us how to overcome fear and anxiety in our lives…did you see it? Mary is greatly troubled as the angel lays out this whole thing for her. Yes, you are a young child yourself, yes, you are a virgin with a fiancé, yes you will now be responsible for caring for, protecting, and raising The Savior of the Universe…how would you not feel anxiety and fear at this moment? And what does Mary do? What does she say?
Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. NIV
She makes the decision to trust God. Even though it is scary, she lets go of her confusion, and her fear and lets God lead. This shows us a major way to find joy in our lives, and that is to choose to let go and trust God. So, let me ask you, when life is hitting and hitting hard, or doesn’t make sense, and anxieties and fears press in, what choice do you make? Can you let go and trust God? Let’s talk about Joseph for a moment because this poor guy has a lot to process.
Joseph – In his story we see another big blocker of joy in our lives, resentment, and also how to overcome it.
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. NIV
I have to say, if you can truly place yourself in Joseph’s shoes, this is a lot to process and handle. You are engaged to be married, and the Scriptures are clear that you haven’t been together intimately and now she is pregnant. But she is telling you not to worry, she didn’t cheat on you, God placed the baby inside her. How do you process this? Joseph would be devastated, and did you notice what it said, he is a good guy, still loves her, and is trying to divorce her quietly. I mean in those days if she was found to be an adulterer she would have been stoned to death. Joseph is crushed, I’m sure somewhere between heartbroken, angry, and confused. In Joseph’s story, we see something else that can block us from experiencing joy and that is resentment. What does Joseph choose to do? He chooses to let go and trust God. He could have been filled with resentment, instead, he forgives and chooses to let go and trust God. Did you see that?
Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. NIV
Now let me ask you, how do you do with this choice to forgive, to let go and trust God? It’s Christmas Eve, and you may be heading to family and friends this evening or this week sometime, to people you care for deeply, who have hurt you deeply. We must understand that resentment blocks us from joy. If you are holding on to hurts, and pain and unwilling to forgive, unwilling to let go and trust God…the only person you are hurting is you. So, there is a theme building here today, have you noticed that? Mary chose to let go and trust God and was able to navigate intense fear and anxiety and find joy. Joseph chose to let go and trust God and was able to navigate intense pain and resentment and find joy. Now, let’s look at two more blockers of joy both found in this story as it unfolds.
The circumstances Jesus’ birth takes place in because it shows us two more blockers of joy to navigate both of which are prominent challenges in our lives. Busyiness & Control of Our Lives.
Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. NIV
So, Joseph and Mary don’t have a very easy go of things here, do they? There was a census taking place and they had to go to Joseph’s hometown for it, which is Bethlehem. It’s a busy time and the town is teaming with people. It’s amazing to me how much is packed into two sentences there in Scripture.
Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. NIV
I mean is this how anyone would draw up the start of their young family? God completely disrupts their lives, their engagement, everything. Now they are getting ready to raise the Savior of the Universe, no pressure there for these new parents, and to add to it, nothing about the birth would be how any of us would draw this up. I mean, traveling to Bethlehem? This wasn’t a quick car ride, there were no Uber services, this was a long and difficult journey for Joseph and his young bride who was ready to give birth any day. Then they get there, and it’s time for the baby to be born, and there is no doctor, no hospital, no warm room, or bed, no she gave birth to him, wrapped him in cloths, and placed him in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn. Wow. In this part of the story, I see two more blockers that can keep us from joy.
The first is one we spent a lot of time on last week, and that is busyness. It’s not even all that intentional but so many of us live such busy lives that we have no room for Jesus in our lives either…we just crowd him out of our lives, and with Him pushed aside, we find no joy, because our joy is made complete by Him! The way through is to choose to seek Him first. We must let go and trust God with our lives and our schedules, choosing to live for Him first. We must let go of our lives and let God take over, we must trust God with them, and allow Him into our lives. All the way, fully into our lives. The second blocker to the joy we can see in this portion of the story is that nothing looks like Mary and Joseph thought it would, they are afraid, confused, and I’m sure in some ways wondering why so much seems stacked against them and the start of their family and lives together. Think about it. This can’t look like they thought it would, can it? What do they do? They continue to choose to let go and trust God, they surrender their lives to Him, and allow Him to lead. Can I ask you, have you ever had a moment in your life, where you looked around and thought, Is this it, God? This is the life I’m living. Why is this happening or why is that not happening? Does your life always go according to plan? I’m not sure any of it goes the way we thought it would, and if you are unable to choose to let go, and trust God and His plan over your own…well, nothing will block you from joy faster than this one.
So, I want to ask you a few questions before we move into our candle-lighting, and I want you to reflect on them, and personalize this as we move into Christmas. Remember Jesus came to help, to set things right, to make us whole, to complete us with joy. When you look at your life are you experiencing joy? What are you pursuing in your life? Is it joy or is it happiness? Many of us want joy but confuse it for happiness and pursue the wrong things! You won’t find it in your stuff, you won’t find it in people, or decorations, or a glass or a bottle. Joy can only be found in God. Remember what Paul told us, it’s important.
Romans 14:17 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. MSG
Do you struggle with fear and anxiety?
Are you able to make the choice to let go and trust God?
Do you struggle with hurt and resentment?
Are you able to make the choice to let go and trust God?
Do you struggle with busyness and can see that Jesus has been crowded out of your life?
It’s time to make the choice to let go and trust God.
Do you look at your life and struggle because it doesn’t look the way it should, and isn’t going the way you want?
It’s time to make the choice to let go and trust God.
We are here today celebrating the greatest thing that could have ever happened to us, we sing and talk of the great joy we have in our lives because of Jesus, yet so few experience it, and in the Christmas Story we get a road map to joy…not to happiness, and happy moments that come and go, but to true joy in our lives, that completes us in and through Jesus. We can learn from these two young, frightened, and confused people so many years ago because they show us the way to joy in the midst of life throwing so much at them!
We can find and experience joy.
It happens when we choose to let go and trust God, can you?