Joy to the World—the 4th Advent Candle
One of the most familiar of all Christmas carols starts like this:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.
We know the story, but do we understand how amazing it is that the God of the universe came down to us AND he came for us—that he is a substitute for what we could not do on our own?
Isaiah 9:6-7 says,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever." (NIV)
There is great joy because God has had this plan all along. Isaiah spoke this truth from God 700 years before the birth of the Savior—and God fulfilled it in Jesus.
Romans 8:1-4 says,
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (NIV)
There is great joy because God did through Jesus what we could not and cannot do for ourselves. We read this in the letter to the church in Rome, which was written about 60 years after the birth of the Savior. Then we read what happened the night that the Savior Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Luke 2:10-14
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
We read this truth of joy right out of the events that happened the night the Savior Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
That’s why we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” The question for each of us is, “Do you know this Savior yourself?” You can know him. He has come for you, too. We can do this just by trusting in him. I pray that you find the joy that can only come by accepting Christ into your own life.
Merry Christmas!
