Advent 3: The Candle of JOY

The third candle of Advent is the candle of JOY!

Joy is an interesting concept. We treat it as an emotion, but emotions are so fleeting and short lived. I am convinced that God did not step into our world to bring us a ‘feeling’ that would come and go depending on our circumstances.

Joy in God’s eyes is that enduring sense of satisfaction and confidence deep within us. It is anchored in who He is and what He has done for us and creates a sense of deep calm within us regardless of what is happening around us.

Joy, it is the promise of angels, it is the hope of the Christian. It is the gift of God.

Christmas JOY was first experienced by the shepherds on that first Christmas Eve. As they sat around the fire that chilly evening, they had no idea that they were about to be drawn into the greatest story ever told, God’s story! There was nothing about them that made them significant, heroic, or gave hint to what was about to happen, yet the angels chose to appear to them with the promise of JOY, “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 Savior 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.” (Luke 2:10-12)

This promise of JOY could not be based on circumstances. The shepherds were poor, and their work and role in society was at the very bottom. They were not considered reliable and could not even bear testimony in a court of law. They were smelly, dirty, and looked after sheep. They were also in a country under deep oppression and war. There certainly was not much about their circumstances that suggested JOY.

And yet, after their experience with the angels, they run to Bethlehem to see that which was told to them by the angels, and then after visiting this baby born in a manger and wrapped in swaddling cloths, they go into the streets telling everyone about what they had just witnessed. JOY! The ones least able to describe JOY had the greatest and most meaningful experience of JOY. JOY that is anchored in the promise and character of God and not the circumstances or experiences of man.

One of my favourite Christmas pictures is the artwork pictured below, ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’ by Gerard van Honthorst (1590 – 1656). His desire was to capture the sense of Joy and adoration on the faces of the shepherds as they stood around baby Jesus. Just look at their faces, their body language. They are not caught up in the struggles of life here, they are overcome by what God has promised and is doing in spite of their circumstances. This, my friends, is JOY!