Inexpressible Joy

There is something magical about Christmas—a wondrous atmosphere that warms the heart. There is joy in the giving and in the receiving, in the quietness and in the busyness. There is beauty in the joy stirred within our hearts through everything we see and do.

And yet, this joy often does not last beyond Christmas—sometimes not even throughout Christmas itself.

Can we be filled with an inexpressible joy this Christmas—a joy so profound that it surpasses the power of words to express?

The true joy of Christmas is no ordinary joy. It is not fleeting but lasting. It is not dependent on circumstances, but rises above them.

The Bible speaks of an inexpressible joy—not rooted in what we possess or in what we experience, but in what has already been accomplished for us. A Saviour has been born, and this is good news that will bring great joy to all people.

A Difficult Time

We often create an ideal picture of what a perfect Christmas should look like. But the circumstances under which the Son of God entered our world were far from perfect. Still, everyone who found Jesus greatly rejoiced. Everyone who found Him praised and worshipped God.

The First Christmas was an extraordinary time of miraculous events! But it was also a difficult time for Mary and Joseph. A happy engagement was overshadowed by the miraculous conception of Jesus. Mary's reputation, her honour and even her life were at stake (Clarke).

Joseph, a faithful and righteous man, considered what to do about Mary, intending to divorce her quietly. But when an angel appeared to him in a dream and revealed that the child conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit, Joseph believed and obeyed. Without hesitation, he took Mary as his wife.

The angel told Joseph the child's name: Jesus, 'for He will save His people from their sins.'

God's time to come with instructions to his people is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts. - Matthew Henry

Mary and Joseph were deeply troubled by the news of the unexpected child, yet they believed God's word and obeyed—even without fully understanding.

Likewise, God gives us just enough light for the path ahead, while leaving space for the unknown, so that we may walk not only by faith, but also in faithfulness.

Close to Jesus' birth, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register according to Caesar's decree. A census was ordered across the Roman world, yet God was working through it to fulfill prophecy—that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Circumstances in our lives may often seem random, but God is always in control, working through them to accomplish His work in us and His plans for us.

Alone and far from home, Joseph and Mary welcomed the baby Jesus in a stable.

For Jesus—the One through whom all things were created—there was no room at the inn.

The King, whose kingdom will never end, was not born in a palace.

Jesus humbled Himself, seeking not the comfort or glory of this world.

Though He was by nature God, He did not display His glory. Philippians 2:6

Rather, Jesus left the glory of heaven and, for our sake, became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Christ became like us, so that one day we might become like Him.

Christ put off the form of God, taking the form of a servant, appearing no longer as the Creator, but as a creature, veiling His perfection with our flesh, and concealing His glories from human eyes. - Benson

Still, A Time of Great Joy

The first Christmas was not a time of plenty for Mary and Joseph. Rather, it was a time of unexpected, puzzling and troubling events.

Still, the first Christmas was a time of great joy.

Jesus' birth was first announced to poor shepherds—not to the chief priests, who were unprepared to receive such tidings, nor to earthly kings, who were consumed by their quest for power.

The sheep intended for the daily sacrifices in the temple were fed in the Bethlehem pastures. It was to these shepherds that the announcement came. They no doubt knew the Messiah was soon to appear, and that Bethlehem would witness His arrival.

Although awake and keeping watch over their flocks at night, the angel's sudden appearance took them by surprise. When the glory of the Lord shone around them, they were terrified.

The white shining cloud of intolerable brightness, known among the Jews as the Shekinah, was the visible manifestation of God's presence. Hundreds of years earlier, because of Israel's disobedience, the prophet Ezekiel saw the glory of God depart from the temple and the holy city. But when Jesus came into our world, the glory of God returned. Jesus is the Shekinah of God—the radiance of His glory.

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being. Hebrews 1:3a

But the angel said to the shepherds: Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests. Luke 2:10-14

A Saviour has been born to you!

It is this knowledge that can still our hearts and fill us with inexpressible joy.

The angels' news was not only good news for the shepherds, or for the Jews, or for the people of those days, but for everyone—for you and me also.

What will we do with this news?

The shepherds did not delay; they went to seek Jesus. And they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, lying in the manger. Then they glorified and praised God for everything they had heard and seen.

When we see Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, we are tempted to say, 'Surely this cannot be the Son of God.' But see His birth attended by a choir of angels, and we can only say, 'Surely it can be no other than the Son of God, concerning whom it was said, when God brings His firstborn into the world, let all God's angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6). - Matthew Henry

The shepherds found Jesus and shared the good news with others.

They returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God.

Their circumstances did not change, but their hearts had changed—and so had their purpose.

These shepherds were the first preachers of the Gospel of Christ: and what was their text? Why, Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace and good will among men. This is the sum and substance of the Gospel of God. - Clarke

Inexpressible Joy

In his first letter, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes about being filled with an inexpressible joy—a joy that can be experienced even amid difficult circumstances.

Though you have not seen Jesus, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:8-9

Though facing trials or hardships, all who believe in Jesus have a living hope and find joy as they look forward to the salvation of their souls, to an eternal home, and to an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade. The present realities we each face may be difficult, but the future and eternal reality we await is glorious.

This world is passing away, along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God remains forever.' 1 John 2:17

This Christmas, look beyond the sparkle of the season and seek Jesus—just as the shepherds did.

The lovely things we enjoy at Christmas may bring a passing joy, but finding Jesus fills our hearts with an inexpressible and everlasting joy.

Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness. Isaiah 51:11