I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. — Luke 2:10-11 I enjoy the Christmas season. I like the cheerful decorations, spending time with family and friends, and eating Christmas goodies. I also love to sing carols—and, above all, “Joy to the World!” “Joy to the world! The Lord is come,” God’s people announce at Christmastime. Based on Psalm 98, Isaac Watts’s eighteenth-century carol celebrates the coming of Jesus, the Christ. The joy of the Savior’s coming resounds throughout all of creation, even the fields and rocks and hills and plains “repeat the sounding joy.” This is good news for all of God’s world! What’s so good about this news announced each Christmas? Why sing this carol with such exuberance? Watts answers that question in the third stanza, where he declares that Jesus has come to deal with the curse of human sin and rebellion. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus brings the blessing as “far as the curse is found.” In Watts’s hymn, this phrase repeats several times—and for good reason. Released from slavery to sin and the power of death over us, we are now freed to live with joy, to love God and our neighbor, and to cultivate the earth God has given us. So, let’s sing with joy that good news: “Joy to the world! The Lord is come”! Amen! Cliff CHURCH NEWS:
- Advent Vesper worship, Wednesday, 6:30pm
- Christmas Cantata, this Saturday, 4:30 and 7:00 performances.
- Christmas Eve worship, 3:00pm and 5:00pm
- Thank you to all who provided for gifts given to active duty soldiers and to families throughout our county!