Luke 2:10-11
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
Like you, I suspect, I love this time of year. Yes, it’s busy; yes, it’s too commercialized; yes, there are too many goofy “Christmas Specials” on T.V.; but I still love this time of year!
I love the traditional songs and carols; I love the lights and most of the decorations; I like the cards we get in the mail; and I especially like the challenge of choosing gifts for the people I love that will produce joy.
After all, joy is the whole point of gift-giving isn’t it?
I think my love for Christmas began in my childhood. Although my parents didn’t have great resources they always found ways to make Christmas a magical and joyful time for us through the gifts they gave.
One of the gifts that still stands out to me over 40 years later was a toy called “Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots.” It was a plastic boxing ring, probably 10 inches square, with two plastic “robots” in the center of the ring, one red and the other blue. Each robot was controlled by a plastic handle outside the ring with two buttons, each controlling one of the robot’s arms. You could maneuver your robot to the right and to the left and then press one of the buttons to deliver a punch to the other robot. When you hit just the right place on the opposing robot’s chin, his head would fly up with a distinct buzzing sound that signaled the round was over.
It was great toy for young boys! We played it almost non stop until we had knocked the heads off so many times that they wouldn’t stay down any longer. Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots lasted about three days.
There are two lessons to be learned from “Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Robots”; first, Christmas is about joy; and second, we tend to misidentify the source of joy.
We have a tendency to locate our joy in material things. If we just had a new car, or a bigger house, or the latest piece of technology, then we would be happy.
We have a tendency to locate our joy in activities. We take vacations to Disney World; we go to amusement parks; we attend movies and sporting events to be entertained; to have fun.
Now there’s nothing wrong with having material things or in pursuing fun and entertaining activities; they just don’t produce real joy. The joy, fun and happiness created by material things or activities is temporary; it ends when the car breaks down or the trip to Disney World ends.
But the story of Christ’s birth is about a different kind of joy.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
The “good news of great joy” is not about something you can buy in a store; it’s not about an entertaining or fun activity; it’s about a person.
That person, of course, is Jesus.
His birth is “good news of great joy” because, the angels say, he is both Savior and Lord.
As Savior he rescues us from the consequences of our own sin.
As Lord he has the authority to grant eternal life.
But notice two small words that are easy to miss. The angels say, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you...”
To you!
With these two small words God writes your name on the tag attached to his great gift!
To the shepherds it meant that God had not forgotten them. It meant that they, even they, were included in his great good news of salvation!
To you it means whatever else is happening in your life right now; whatever burdens you carry from the past; whatever you fear about the future; God has not forgotten you! God has come to you, for you, in the person of Jesus; and he has come to bring joy.
Just as my joy as a child was anchored not in the “Rock ‘em Sock ‘em” toy but in the love of my Mom and Dad who gave the gift; so also our joy is anchored not in the things we have or the activities we pursue, but in the God who gave us the greatest gift...the gift of himself.
Lord Jesus,
We look for joy in so many things and so many activities that produce temporary fun and happiness but leave our hearts yearning for more. May we know the truest and deepest joy that comes from knowing you as Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Pastor Brian Coffey
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