Advent Week 3: Joy
We light the candles of hope, peace, and joy on this third Sunday of Advent. Joy is a difficult word to define. As I was singing in church this morning, I was captured by the lyrics of O Come All Ye Faithful:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem
O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels
Did you notice how the lyrics describe the faithful? As followers of Jesus, we are called to be joyful because Christ has triumphed over sin and death. Honestly, I don’t think these two words would describe me. Life, with its circumstances, often dictates our emotions and reactions. However, joy and triumph or victory are actions that derive from our circumstances, but rather joy and victory result from being relationally connected to the person of Jesus. Eternal gladness and enjoyment are only found in connection with the victorious God of the universe revealed as a small child born in Bethlehem.
The Advent story is full of joy. Imagine the joy Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced when they realized Elizabeth was pregnant. The angel told Zechariah that his son, John the Baptist, would bring great joy and gladness to his parents (Luke 1:14). This baby jumped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary, who was carrying Jesus, visited Elizabeth (Luke 1:44). And Mary rejoiced and praised God for God’s salvation (Luke 1:47).
Joy filled others upon hearing or seeing signs of the coming Messiah. The Magi saw the star and were filled with great joy (Matthew 2:10). On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel proclaimed, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” The birth of Jesus brings joy to all people.
As Jesus grew, John baptized him in the Jordan river, “and a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy (Matthew 3:17).’” Jesus didn’t just bring joy to the world, but Jesus also brought joy to God, his Father. Jesus taught everything from his Father so that everyone “will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow (John 15:11)!”
Joy is also central to Paul’s writings. He wrote in Romans 14:17, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Paul wrote, “Be joyful always.” And he provided a benediction in Romans 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
May God fill us with joy, eternal gladness and peace, because we have experienced the triumph of Jesus and wait for his future triumphant return.
Take time this Sunday to reflect on joy. Watch this video produced by Northern Seminary featuring Amy Peeler as she reflects on joy and Mary, the mother of Jesus. This video is very informative about how this third week of joy is different than the other weeks of Advent. Peeler concludes, “Rejoicing now is an act of hope.”
Also, take time to pray the second Sunday Advent prayer following the video.
Third Sunday of Advent Prayer
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.