Advent 1998 - 3 - Good News of Great Joy!
Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11; Luke 2:8-20
You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 (NIV)
I. From Fear to Joy
A. The Terrifying Glory of God
1. The angels in the Bible don’t seem to be as pleasant in appearance as Roma Downey!
a. Popular images of angels depict them as cute, friendly, certainly approachable
b. Angel stories, angel pictures, angels in movies and on TV are so . . . nice.
c. Those angels aren’t in the Bible.
2. The universal response to the presence of God, or his Angels is fear.
a. People who see them are usually seized with terror.
b. In fact the standard way people respond to angels is here in Luke.
3. The Angels do not seem to tire of saying “Do not be afraid.”
a. They are always saying this.
b. It seems necessary for them to assure those they appear to.
B. The Horrifying Truth about us
1. One of the reasons we experience fear in God’s presence is our sinfulness.
a. In the presence of purity, impurity becomes so much more obvious.
b. The horrifying truth about is gets exposed.
2. Isaiah’s response to this was utter dread
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)
3. God knows the horrifying truth about us, but comes to be with us anyway!
a. God announces his Good News to us, who could only expect bad news.
b. The terrifying presence of holy angels is changed to great joy!
II. Surprising Joy
A. In the middle of the Ordinary
1. There is nothing especially good about watching sheep eat the grass.
a. It was usually done by those who were marginally employable.
b. Shepherds weren’t considered the cream of the crop spiritually either.
2. God comes unexpectedly, to people who didn’t expect him.
a. The shepherds weren’t expecting anything extraordinary that night.
b. They didn’t say “It’s about time!” they were shocked.
3. He still does!
a. God comes in surprising ways.
b. God comes with a surprise: Joy!
B. In the middle of Despair
1. Isaiah prophesied that God would come when things were bad for Israel.
a. After Israel had suffered (v.2) God’s discipline.
b. God brings joy in our sorrow for sin.
2. Things were bad in Babylon, things were bad under Roman rule.
a. These were hard times, violent times.
b. They were times of oppression.
c. These were times when hope was fading, when joy was a distant memory
3. Sometimes when it seems all hope is lost, or at least unreasonable, He comes!
a. God comes bringing Joy to those who have no reason for it (on their own).
b. He gives us more joy when all is dark.
C. In the middle of Scandal
1. God comes as an infant!
a. If this didn’t happen, wouldn’t we think this a horrid idea!
b. God a helpless baby! Who needs to be fed and have his diaper changed!
2. He comes into a stable!
a. Not in a castle, or a hospital.
b. There is no one to protect him, honor him, or even really notice
3. Foreigners and nobodies hear the news.
a. Mary and Joseph are just plain folks
b. The shepherds and the Magi are the only others who even knew.
III. The Joy of Salvation
A. A Savior is born!
1. The Angels have Good News of Great Joy!
a. This is supposed to make us happy!
b. These scary, holy beings are here to tell us we have something to celebrate!
2. The Joy is that the Savior has come!
a. It is God’s plan that the coming Savior will bring us joy!
b. Joy because we are freed from the shackles of our sinfulness
c. Joy because we are free to be in relationship with God again!
3. The Joy is that salvation will come!
a. Whatever joy we now know, we shall know even more when he comes again
B. God comes to Gather us in!
1. Isaiah describes God as the gentle shepherd who gathers his lambs (v.11)
a. Though the sheep are scattered.
2. Although we have run away from Him.
a. Dissatisfied with his shepherding.
3. Although we feel isolated and alone.
C. All this for Joy!
1. God intends all of this for His pleasure.
a. God does this because it pleases him to do it!
2. And also for ours!
a. God wants us to have true joy!
3. The savior comes to make possible the New Heaven and New Earth.
a. Where all suffering is gone and room is left only for joy!
b. He will say “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the Joy of the Lord!”
The Bottom Line:
| Celebrate the Joy of your salvation! Revel in the feast of God’s Grace! |
(HoR: GHoF#87 Joy to the World, vv 1-3)
Read quote from a Brakel
...to be joyful in God is heaven. In heaven there is neither weeping nor sorrow; there is nothing but eternal, exceedingly great, and inexpressible joy. If you could but see and hear how joyful the inhabitants of heaven are, how they jubilate and sing, your heart would indeed be stirred. If you desire heaven, you must find delight in joy, for what else would you do in heaven where there are none but those who are joyful and where there is nothing but joy? Eternal felicity is therefore referred to as joy: “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:21).
Wilhelmus a Brakel, 1635-1711.
The Christian’s reasonable service, Volumes 1 and 2