Good News of Great Joy

"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'" (Luke 2:10-11, ESV).

As we gather to celebrate the coming of Christ, we are proclaiming good news of great joy.  We are sharing a message that has brought hope and transformation for nearly two thousand years.  We are proclaiming that the long awaited hope of deliverance has come into the world.  We are proclaiming that sin and death no longer have the right to reign over mankind.  The rightful King as come, and in his coming he brought life.

The heart of the message of Christmas is that sinners no longer have to fear the wrath of God.  The proclamation of Christmas is that God has sent his Lamb into the world, to be a substitutionary atonement, on behalf of fallen man.  Christmas means that God is pleased to dwell among the image bearers, and has made it possible by reconciling all things to himself through Jesus Christ.

Christmas proclaims the reality of sin, and the truth that man needs a Savior.  The angel says, "For unto you is born . . . a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  The fact that he was born to be the Savior indicates that Creation needed to be saved.  Even the name Jesus means Salvation.  The title Christ (Messiah) reminds us that he was "anointed" for this task.  Thus, the anointed Savior came into the world to redeem mankind by offering up himself as a ransom.

So this Christmas, take time to consider if you have received the greatest gift of all, the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Savor the goodness of the message--Jesus saves.  Rejoice with great joy that he has stilled your fears, and brought peace between you and God.  And Remember, that Jesus has ascended on high, where he reigns over all of Creation, and that he still delights in saving those who don't yet know him.

Art work from: PicturesofJesus4You.com.