“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2.10-12
This is what the angels said to the shepherds that wonderful night 2000 years ago. The Good News that Jesus was born means many things to many people;
Liberation. Reconciliation. Restoration. Justification. Salvation.
First though, notice with me what the angels said:
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Good news of great joy…for all the people.
Good news of great joy.
Great joy.
The first advent of Christ, His first coming, which we are but a few days away from celebrating, was a time of great joy.
The first three-quarters of the Bibles we carry looks forward to this very moment. Ever since Genesis 3.15 there has been a future focus on this moment, and it was a moment of great joy.
Everything that people had wanted and had struggled towards for hundreds of years was now here.
Everything that people had tried and tried to work towards in their own strength was now here, and this meant it was a time of great joy.
FOR US NOW,
IT IS STILL A TIME OF GREAT JOY.
The gift of liberation from slavery to sin has been given.
The gift of reconciliation in our relationship to God has been given.
The gift of restoration to the life we were made to live has been given.
The gift of justification and a right-standing before God has been given.
The gift of salvation and eternal life has been given.
Christmas is a time of great joy because of what we are celebrating.
Christmas is a time of great joy because of what came into the world.
Christmas is a time of great joy because of Jesus.
James Travis 