‘Tis the season for … love …  JOY … peace. God showed His incredible love for doomed humankind when He sent His only Son, Jesus, to become the sacrifice to take our punishment for us. This unbelievable love brings joy that no one can explain.

Joy! What is Joy? It’s not just being happy all the time. No one can keep up that charade forever, but James indicates that it is possible to have joy even when things aren’t going our way. He said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). Jesus experienced joy when he looked forward to the glory that would be his after he endured the cross and the shame. He could look beyond the pain to the reward the Father had for him on the other side. Jesus promised his disciples that His joy can be in us and fill us to overflowing.

How do we experience this kind of joy? The apostle Paul tells us that joy is a product of allowing the Holy Spirit to live in and through our lives. It’s not something we work for. It is something that the Holy Spirit produces in us. Jesus said we receive this joy by abiding in him, by allowing His presence to permeate our hearts. Joy is more than head knowledge that things are good on the surface. It is a deep heart knowledge that God has redeemed this world and has made things right between Him and those who accept His offer of grace.

The angels announced to the shepherds, “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people” (Luke 2:10). The news of Jesus’ birth brought joy to all the world. Jesus was the promised Messiah the Jewish people were waiting for. Jesus was the culmination of all the prophecies looking forward to a Savior. He would be the end of all sacrifices and take away the sins of the world.

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come!”