Joy Joy Joy

The Birth of Jesus—Luke 2:1-11

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3. And everyone went to their own town to register.

4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.

8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10. 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.

An unusual announcement to an unexpected audience

Without a doubt, Christmas is to be a time of GREAT JOY. On that first Christmas night, the angel announced to the shepherds “good news of a great joy.” The Savior has come!! WOW!! Those shepherds were so excited. That announcement changed their lives forever. They were filled with joy and wonder and praise.

Caves where shepherds “kept watch over their flock” still abound in the area east of  Bethlehem. Here, Luke’s Gospel tells us, an angel announced the birth of Jesus.

The angel’s good news was not given to the noble or pious, but to workers with a low reputation. Jewish literature ranked “shepherd” as among the most despised occupations of the time — but Jesus was to identify himself with this occupation when he called himself “the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).

The traditional place of the angel’s visit is the town of Beit Sahur. Originally known as the Village of the Shepherds, it is now an eastern suburb of Bethlehem.

 We can choose to make this Christmas different. Choose to give God praise. Choose to focus on the victories and joys you have experienced during the year, and then find ways to share that victory and joy with others. Christmas can be a true celebration of fresh starts and new beginnings if we choose to focus on a tiny baby born in a manger, who comes to save us and give us true life.  Right now, choose an attitude of joy by focusing your mind on the things of heaven—not the earth, and by fixing your heart on Jesus Christ. Your Christmas will turn into Christmas Joy!

Joy To The World--Sir Isaac Watts

Joy To the World, The Lord Is Come!
Let Earth Receive Her King;
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room,
And Heaven And Nature Sing,
And Heaven And Nature Sing,
And Heaven, And Heaven, And Nature Sing.

Joy To the World, The Savior Reigns!
Let Men Their Songs Employ;
While Fields And Floods, Rocks, Hills And Plains
Repeat The Sounding Joy,
Repeat The Sounding Joy,
Repeat, Repeat, The Sounding Joy.

Go Tell It on The Mountain!

While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
When lo above the Earth
Rang out the angel's chorus

That hailed our Savior's birth

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Joy To The World--Sir Isaac Watts

Joy To the World, The Lord Is Come!
Let Earth Receive Her King;
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room,
And Heaven And Nature Sing,
And Heaven And Nature Sing,
And Heaven, And Heaven, And Nature Sing.

Joy To the World, The Savior Reigns!
Let Men Their Songs Employ;
While Fields And Floods, Rocks, Hills And Plains
Repeat The Sounding Joy,
Repeat The Sounding Joy,
Repeat, Repeat, The Sounding Joy.

Go Tell It on The Mountain"

 While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

When lo above the Earth
Rang out the angel's chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born