St. Luke 2: 8-14
Psalm 30:5
Topic: Jesus Christ, the Joy to the world
The word “joy” in the Webster’s Dictionary is defined as “very glad feeling; happiness or delight.”
Today, we are living in a world where there are people who are searching for some joy in their lives. We have some people who are searching for some happiness, delight, or gladness to lighten up their lives after being in so much sadness and sorrows for a long periods of time.
There are many people who are searching for some joy for their lives, but yet they are searching for joy in all the wrong places or things.
There are people today who feel that they can find joy in drugs or alcohol, but they later discover that drugs and alcohol doesn’t give you any joy at all, but rather it just add more sorrows and drama to your life.
There are people today who feel that they can find some joy in having a pocket full of money, living in a big house, driving a nice car, working on a well-paid job, wearing designer clothes, or having lots of fortune and fame. Now, all of these things are nice and good, but it won’t bring you any real joy that you need because there people today who have everything that the world could give them, but yet they find themselves depressed or commit suicide because they did not find any joy or satisfaction in their worldly riches or goods.
There are some people who feel that they can find some joy in some man or in some woman. You know, it is good to have some friends. It is also good when a young lady can find a young man to be her boyfriend or husband or a young man can find a young lady to be his girlfriend or wife. But yet, sometimes in the midst of your friendship or companionship, your friend or your companion can let you down and disappoint you, and have you standing all alone by yourself.
So the question is: How can I find some real joy?
Now, in order to find joy, one must understand that there is a difference between joy and happiness. You see, happiness is dependent upon external things. It is dependent upon how much money you make. It is dependent upon what kind of car you drive, or what kind of house you live in. Happiness is dependent upon external things and material things because the moment you don’t have any money in your pocket, the moment you become homeless, the moment you lose your car, the moment your friends and your love ones forsake and leave you, happiness is goes out the door; for happiness is dependent upon external things.
But joy is entirely different than happiness. Joy is not dependent upon how much money you have. It is not dependent upon how many degrees you have, what kind of car you drive, or house you live in. Joy is not dependent upon circumstances, but rather joy is dependent upon Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ is the source of real joy. Nehemiah 8:10 says “that the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
If you need strength just to make it from day to day, you need the joy of the Lord, and the joy of the Lord is found in Jesus Christ.
You see, there is joy in knowing Jesus Christ. Now there are 4 good reasons why there is joy in Jesus Christ.
1.The first reason why we can find joy in Jesus Christ is because when Jesus Christ was born into this world, his birth brought forth joy. In St. Luke 2:10-11, it says when the angel announced to the shepherds about the birth of Jesus Christ, they said to the shepherds, “Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you are born this day in the cit of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” When Jesus was born, He brought joy to the world. Now notice that the angels said that they came to bring good tiding of great joy which shall be to all people. You see, the joy that Jesus has to offer is for all people, black people, white people, yellow people, red people short people, tall people, small people, big people, rich people, poor people, educated people, uneducated people. Jesus does not discriminate when he gives joy, for His joy is for all people.
2.The second reason why we can find joy in Jesus Christ because when Jesus was ministering here on earth, he brought joy into the lives of people. He brought joy when he gave sight to the blind. He brought joy when he made the deaf man to hear. He brought joy when he made the lame man to walk. He brought joy when he cast demons out of people. Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.” And guess what? Jesus is still bringing joy into the lives of people today. He is still healing the sick, setting the captives free, delivering people from the power of Satan, and Jesus is still performing miracles. Psalm 30:5 says that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
3.The third reason why we can find joy in Jesus Christ because when Jesus Christ because when Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and after three days, when He rose up out of the grave with all power in his hands, He brought joy because through Jesus Christ death, we can receive forgiveness of sins, and because He is alive today we shall live eternally. Jesus had said in John 11:25-26, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that beliveth in me; though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
4. The fourth reason why we can have joy in Jesus is because when Jesus Christ ascended up back to heaven, there is a joy in knowing that He is coming back again. Jesus Christ said in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” You see, there is joy in knowing that one day Jesus is coming back and he will take us to the land, to the place where there is no more dying, no more sickness, no more wars, no more sorrows, no more diseases, no more headaches or problems. But rather in that land or place(heaven) there will be everlasting peace, harmony, streets paved with gold, a tree of life that has leaves for the healing of the nations. We would have to worry about sunlight or moonlight for Jesus Christ will be our everlasting light that will be shinning through all eternity.
