“Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come!”
(Luke 2:1-20 – Christmas 2024)
Luke 2:1-7 – 1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
For days, the little boy had been examining the presents under the Christmas tree. His family was poor, but somehow they had managed to gather a few gifts. His eyes were especially filled with wonder and excitement at a huge gift that sat in front of the tree, nearly hiding all the rest. He couldn’t wait to open it, dreaming of what might be inside. When Christmas finally came, he tore open that huge gift in a tornado of wrapping paper. And there sat a big stuffed animal. “Oh!” he said, “It’s just like the one I got last year from Aunt Betty.” Then, hopes still high, he tore into the next biggest present… revealing a toy truck with one wheel missing. “Wow!” he said. Then he tore into the next biggest present… revealing a blow-up Santa Claus that sprung a leak within 10 minutes. “Thanks,” he said respectfully, his wonder and excitement about Christmas somewhat deflated.
Finally, when it seemed every gift was opened and all that was left was to clean up the mess, his father said, “Son, there’s one more.” The boy looked again. Finally, he found a tiny gift that had gone unnoticed behind all the big ones, pushed way back under the Christmas tree. “What’s this?” he asked, holding it between two fingers. “Open it,” his father said. When he did, his eyes got bigger than ever. Inside was $1000 with a note: “For the gift your heart desires.” “It’s part of your inheritance from Grandpa,” mom explained. $1000! It was greater than the boy could imagine!
Great gifts can come in small packages. While all eyes are on the big gifts under the Christmas tree, sometimes it is the little one hidden behind all the rest that brings greatest joy.
Isn’t that how it was the first Christmas? When a tiny Baby was born and laid away in a manger, off in the little town of Bethlehem, who even noticed? The eyes of all were fixed on the big packages, the big goings-on of the day, the big names in the Who’s Who of the world. Amidst the hubbub of that first Christmas, the talk of every town was the decree by Caesar Augustus, that everyone in his empire must be taxed. For this reason, “all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.” The roads were busy that first Christmas, as people went this way and that to the hometown of their family. There were so many places to go, people to see, and things to do! Does that sound familiar in this busy season of Christmas?
An earthly king had his eyes on the big package, the gift he coveted, with his big-time plans for taxing the people. But unknown to him, something far greater than he imagined was taking place. Heaven’s King had His own plan from eternity, to give the greatest gift this world had ever seen, delivered in a tiny package, all wrapped up in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
Hadn’t God Himself already decreed this from ancient times? God had told King David that a great King would be born of his family line, one who would establish an everlasting Kingdom. He would be David’s Son according to His human nature; yet He would be God’s Son (2 Samuel 7:12-14). The prophet Isaiah had foretold that He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Now in the fullness of time, this Child of promise had been conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. And as God had foretold, this eternal King was to be born in the city of David, the little town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Therefore it came to pass, by the decree of heaven’s King, that Mary and Joseph, as descendants of David, came to Bethlehem the city of their forefather. “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Big-time earthly kings sat on plush thrones in royal palaces. But for heaven’s King there was no room in the inn. Jesus’ first crib was a manger, from which animals ate their food! How few recognized that heaven’s King had been born in the world that first Christmas night.
How true to form it is in the world to this day! Even as many celebrate the night of Jesus’ birth, they live in spiritual darkness, not seeing that He was born as their Savior. How many eyes are focused on the big packages, seeking meaning and happiness in the short-lived gifts and treasures of this world. Yet, they are missing out on this heaven-sent Gift, who alone gives life to the soul.
How often do we focus on the great gifts of this world that seem to hold such promise, that seem more important than the little Baby born at Christmas? Like Caesar, in many ways we want to rule our own lives, decreeing that our will be done, enthroned in plush kingdoms we make for ourselves. When heaven’s King wants to come in and rule every part of our lives, how often does He find our hearts like an inn that has no room for Him? We are busy tearing into our big life plans. Our eyes are filled with excitement at the huge gifts of the world, with all the treasures and pleasures we hope to find. Yet upon gaining them, they never truly satisfy our soul.
When we come up empty-handed, and all the great gifts of the world that seemed to have such promise leave us empty-hearted, the heavenly Father says: “There’s one more.” Look again at that tiny Gift, wrapped up so small in a manger for you. Jesus is not just another Baby born 2000 years ago. He is heaven’s eternal King, our Savior. He is never too busy for us. We are so important to Him that He came all the way from heaven, to give His life as a ransom to redeem us from all our sin. He came to give us His most gracious gift of forgiveness and eternal life, and all that comes with the inheritance of His heavenly Kingdom, in joys greater than we can imagine.
When we truly see who that Baby in the manger is, we can sing from our hearts: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” Let us sing the first two verses of the hymn:
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room.
And heav’n and nature sing…
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy…
Luke 2:8-14 – 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
On the night of our dear Savior’s birth, many in this fallen world continue to plod their own paths in the darkness of sin and unbelief, unable to recognize and receive their Savior. Yet all the heavenly host, who serve this newborn King of heaven, cannot keep quiet. At His bidding, they go forth with great joy to proclaim the good news of His birth, as the Savior for all people, as the Light of the world. As Isaiah prophesied, it is now fulfilled: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined… For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:2, 6).
Yet, when the angel appeared in the midst of the darkness to proclaim that Light, and the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds, they were filled with fear. For how can sinners stand in the presence of God’s perfect glory and live?
How deeply the curse of sin has taken effect in this world. After Adam and Eve sinned and fell, they tried to hide from God in the darkness. Ever since, all have sinned and live in a world overshadowed by darkness, a world cursed with thorns and sorrows, suffering and death. Sin leaves us trembling in fear of God’s judgment. How much easier it feels to go on walking in darkness, trying to hide our sins from the light of God’s glory, than to face the light of His truth and judgment!
Yet, what a wonderful message the angel proclaimed – not to strike terror in the hearts of sinners, but to instill joy. The angel said: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
He is the Lord of glory, “dwelling in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). Yet He came to us in the most approachable way. He became one with us, born as a Baby in our flesh. He was born to live and die for us, to earn our salvation from sin. He was born in poverty, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a lowly manger. One day, He would feel the deepest poverty on the cross, wrapped in the filthy rags of all our sins, and laid in a lowly tomb. Jesus did it all so He could clothe us in His royal robe of righteousness, and raise us to eternal life, to inherit all the riches of His heavenly Kingdom! In Jesus, God has removed the curse from us and put His blessing on us. Truly at Christmas, God gave us the greatest gift in His Son, our Savior!
With these good tidings of great joy that are for all people, all of heaven broke forth in joyful song. As the shepherds looked on, “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Let us sing the new song in Christ, with the next two verses of “Joy to the World”:
No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found…
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love…
Luke 2:15-20 – 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
That first Christmas, the good news of the Savior who was born for all people was first proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds. Then when the Shepherds had seen the Savior, “they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
To this day, the good tidings of great joy are proclaimed to the ends of the earth in the name of Jesus. For He rules the world with truth and grace. He rules among us in His Kingdom of Grace, His Church. By the decree of heaven’s King, His good news of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life is proclaimed to penitent sinners.
Now, the Lord has made known to us His good tidings of great joy. We have seen the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love. It is not revealed to us by angels in a heavenly display of glory, as it was first revealed to the shepherds. Yet, the same heavenly light of His Gospel has displaced the darkness in our lives, and “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
The Baby in the manger truly was the King of heaven, yet His glory was hidden in rags of humility. So today, He who is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14) comes to us in all His glory, hidden in the humble form of His Word and Sacraments. It is here that Jesus is present to proclaim to us the forgiveness of all our sins. Through these means of grace, the Holy Spirit brings us to see, with the eyes of faith, this Holy Child who was born to be our Savior.
As Joseph and Mary followed the guidance of His Word in their difficult journey to Bethlehem, and beyond, so let us follow our Savior’s Word, as we journey through this world. Let us keep all these things He has spoken and ponder them in our hearts, not only at Christmas, but all year-round. Like the shepherds, let us glorify and praise God for all the things which we have heard and seen, and then share His good tidings of salvation with others. For it is a life-changing gift we cannot keep to ourselves!
Go ahead, enjoy opening those gifts under the Christmas tree. But remember, sometimes it is the little one hidden away behind all the rest that brings greatest joy. The tiny Baby born that first Christmas and laid away in a manger, is the greatest Gift our hearts could ever desire. He gives us all the inheritance of His heavenly Kingdom. And when He comes again in all His glory, we will join the angels and saints in heavenly joy, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest!”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Amen.