2. Good News that brings great joy

Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  Lu : 2 : 10

Christmas festival i.e., the glad tidings that Jesus was born as the Saviour of the world is a very delightful news.  That the Lord was born in this world – not to destroy but to save the sinner is a very pleasant news.  People who floundered in darkness, saw a great light.  What a great joy!  In these days, matters such as putting on new garments and new jewels, buying things  related to the festival, making yummy snacks, wining and dining, sending greetings to kith and kin, sending greetings through greeting cards, SMS, and E-mail, exploding crackers give us much joy and jollity.  But how is the real joy made possible?

Joy in seeing Christ Jesus

We do not get full joy in celebrating Christmas as a normal festival.  We will experience real joy only when Jesus is born in our hearts, as we accept him as our Saviour.  Unless Jesus is in our heart, in our home, and in our church, all these external things will become meaningless.  The  Bethlehemians told that there was no place for Jesus to be born.  Today in the hearts, homes and churches of most of the people , there is no room for Jesus. 

Some days back, I heard an entertaining story .  In a foreign country a black man went in search of a church and on hearing the sound of the church bells, he recognized a church.  What a joy he had!  Splendid steeple, eye-catching building, costly decorative articles, superb furniture, and musical instruments – all these he saw with bated breath.  And while he was about to enter the church, a white man stopped him.  “Sir, Please let me in to worship the Lord”, he pleaded the white man.  But the white man did not budge.  He told, “There is no place for you, black man.”  The white man pushed the black man out.  While he stood out in the street sorrowfully, he saw another man in front of the church.  Having been offended much, the black man clarified the situation.  Then the other man said to the black man, “I too have not been allowed to enter the church for the past 40 years.  Both of us are in the same boat.”  Then the black man said to him, “Sir, Who are you?”  “I am Jesus.”  Pat came the answer.

Dear Brothers, never celebrate Christmas having hearts, homes and churches without Jesus.  Let the joy that the shepherds, Hannah, Gideon and wise men be made available to us also!

The joy that comes out of praising the child Jesus

When we praise the Lord, extolling the birth of Christ Jesus, a tremendous joy will overflow in  our life.  God’s Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy which the Holy Spirit gives.  Sis. Sarah Nauroji too inserted and deployed this verse in one of her hymns.

Praise of the angels

When Jesus Christ was born, the heavenly host of angels came down as a crowd and sang songs in praise of the Lord.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” (Luke 2:14)

Praise of the Shepherds

The shepherds came to know of the birth of the Lord through the angels.  At once they hurried off and saw the baby lying in the manger.  They were highly surprised to see the child.  Yea, it was a pleasant surprise!

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:20)

        Praise of Simeon

At that time, there was a man named Simeon in Jerusalem.  He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to saved.  The Holy Spirit was with him and had assured him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah.  Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple.  When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple,  Simeon took the child in arms and gave thanks to God.(Luke 2:25-29)

      Hannah too praised the Lord

Eighty four-year-old Hannah, a widow, never left the Temple and she observed fasting prayer day and night and worshipped God.  That very same hour she arrived and gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting for God to set Jerusalem free. (Luke 2:25-29)

    Mary too praised the Lord

After three days, they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions.  All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers.

   Elizabeth who enjoyed in Spirit

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby moved within her.  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  She said to Mary, “As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped

with gladness.”  When we praise Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, along with the joy that comes by accepting Jesus as our Saviour, we will be filled up with real joy.

The joy that we receive by proclaiming gospel

Do you know the climax of Christmas celebration? 

The joy and happiness that we attain must be available to this world too.  After fulfilling all things, if we do not proclaim gospel to even a single person, we cannot get complete joy.  One day when I sat down to have dinner in a house, I saw a wall-poster where it was written thus: “To double your joy, share it with others”.

Just go through the gospels…

The comet guided the wise men and brought them to the spot where Jesus was born.

The angels descended from heaven and announced the good news to the shepherds.

The shepherds made the good news known - they heard, known, seen and received – to others.

Jesus came into this world not only for us, not only for Christians.  During this Christmas season, everyone of you invite at least two families who are unaware of Jesus  and proclaim Jesus.  Lead them to your local church.  There will be great joy in heaven on account of a soul that repents unto salvation.  Let that joy and delight fill us these days.   Every believer amongst our Bhil people who have heard this news have decided to proclaim gospel to those who are unsaved,  offer them dinner and bring them to the church.  Let us also announce the glad tidings.  Let us double our joy.  Heaven will also rejoice!

Today is the day proclaiming gospel!  Glory be to God in the highest!

We wish you all a merry Christmas

 Rt.Rev.Dr.V.Devadass,

Sharing Love Mission, Gujarat.

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