You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. — Isaiah 9:3

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Christmas is a time of feasting, celebrating, and rejoicing. It is a time of joy. And this joy is at the very heart of Christmas. The angels declared "... good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10) because Christ came to bring joy to those who otherwise only had reason for sorrow.

In all the years leading up to the birth of Christ, joy was something promised. Joy was something anticipated as the people waited upon God to fulfill his promise to redeem his people. While they knew the sorrow of their sin and the sorrow of living in a world marred with sin, they looked forward in hope to the day when God would decisively pay for their sin and undo their sorrow.

With the birth of Christ, the hope that was once deferred over thousands of years was now a desire fulfilled...

Indeed, because of the fall, humanity was plunged into sorrow and death; humanity was banished from the garden and the tree of life. We read in Proverbs 13:12 that, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." With the birth of Christ, the hope that was once deferred over thousands of years was now a desire fulfilled: a tree of life. Christ came as the great desire of nations, bearing the gift of joy.

Christ gives us joy by removing the guilt of our sin. He was born to be plunged into the sorrow and death that we deserved. Why? So we could come to him-our tree of life-and be given abundant life and joy. In Christ, no longer does the threat of punishment and death hang over our heads, but rather the love of God and ever-increasing joy.

When Christ was born, when he died for your sin, and when he rose again, he ended your reason for sorrow, and he gave you reason for abundant joy.

In Christ, this joy is yours now. You no longer wait for the reason for joy to arrive. When Christ was born, when he died for your sin, and when he rose again, he ended your reason for sorrow, and he gave you reason for abundant joy. Though you may experience sorrows, pain, and loss, none of these things can take away your reason for joy. In Christ, your joy is anchored and solid. In Christ, you can look forward to a future of joy unspeakable, knowing that he who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it, knowing that he who paid for your sin is also the one who will make all things new.

Liturgy

0 God of Steadfast Love,
‍
We rejoice that you have kept your promises.
That in the birth of Christ
you have turned our sorrow into dancing,
our mourning into rejoicing,
our despair into increasing joy.
Restore to us the joy of our salvation.
Give us eyes to see and ears to hear
the wonders of your love,
the glory of your grace,
and the reason for our increasing joy.
We confess that our hearts are often numb,
that we often seek joy and hope in idols and sin,
that we forget your tidings of comfort and joy,
and that we make for ourselves cisterns that hold no water.
We repent of our joyless pursuits.
Awaken our dull hearts to rejoice again
in the fulfillment of your promises,
in the Savior that paid for our sin,
and the abundant life that we have in him.
In the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen