I heard about a Christmas program given by some Sunday School children. At one point four children were to come out, each carrying a big letter to spell the word “STAR.” Somehow they got mixed up and instead of spelling S-T-A-R they spelled R-A-T-S!  Sadly, to many people, Christmas isn’t a shining star–to them, it’s “Ah, Rats.” It’s a miserable time because they are miserable for any number of reasons. 

     Many people become depressed at Christmas time. Instead of Christmas joy, they experience Christmas “oy” (which is an abbreviation for “Oy Vey,” a Yiddish phrase expressing exasperation or dismay, like our “woe is me!”). I am reminded of the story of a young, harried mother doing her Christmas shopping. With her arms full of packages and shopping bags and with several children in tow, she pushes her way into a crowded mall elevator. As the door closes, she sighs and says, “Whoever started this ‘Christmas Thing,’ should be strung up and hanged!”  From the back of the elevator an elderly gentleman responds: “Don’t worry they already crucified Him!”  

      It isn’t just the hustle and bustle and hecticness of Christmas that causes some to experience “Christmas oy.” Some have lost loved ones recently and feel alone. For others they are separated from family and long for the good old times of family get-togethers. Some may be facing serious health problems or financial problems.  The shortness of daylight hours adds to the melancholy and feelings of “oy.” 

     But,don’t forget the message to the shepherds in the hills overlooking Bethlehem watching over their sheep the night Jesus was born.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood before them with the glory of the Lord shining around them. The shepherds were, understandably, very frightened. But the “angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’ ” (Lk. 2:8-10). 

     That was probably the text for many sermons yesterday (as it was at our home church), for it was the third Sunday of Advent, with the theme: JOY.  As was pointed out by our pastor, it is important to distinguish between “happiness” and “joy.”  Happiness depends on “happenings” (circumstances.) When things go as we desire, we experience happiness. Joy is an inner peace and contentment and it doesn’t depend on circumstances, it depends on Jesus. “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things” (Kay Warren).   

     Joy can’t be manufactured. It comes from having a right relationship with Jesus Christ–first of all by receiving Him as Savior and then abiding in Him, depending upon Him, allowing the indwelling Holy Spirit to be in control (being “filled with the Spirit”…Eph. 5:18; “walking in the Spirit”…Gal. 5:16). It is important to note that the joy available to a Christian is actually Jesus’ joy. John records these words of Jesus to His disciples:  “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full” (Jn. 15:11).   Joy isn’t something we ask for, it is something we have in the person of Jesus Christ who lives in us through the Holy Spirit. Note that in that same chapter of John, Jesus said: ” I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in Him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). We don’t produce the fruit, we “bear” or “support” the fruit that God the Holy Spirit produces when we abide in Christ. Part of that “fruit” is the “fruit of the Spirit” which is “love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control…” (Gal. 5:22).  “The fruit of the Spirit is not lemons!” (Phil Callaway, Prairie Bible College). “Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian” (G. K. Chesterton). Because, Jesus is our joy.   Johann Sebastian Bach wrote the beautiful choral piece entitled Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, celebrating the joy that comes from knowing Christ. 

     As Ezra the priest read from the Scriptures to the Israelites, conviction of sin caused the people to weep, but Nehemiah said to the people: “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep…Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:9,10).  Similarly, “the joy of Jesus is our strength.”  

     So, if you want to experience Christmas joy rather than Christmas oy, let Jesus be your joy.  If you’ve never asked Him to be your Savior, it must start there. Then let Him be Lord of your life. Abide in Him. Put Him first in all things so you can say, with the Apostle Paul, “For me to live is Christ…” (Phil. 1:21).  Then you will experience true joy–His joy–no matter what your circumstances. 

               “If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, 

            let Jesus come into your heart,

            Your sins He’ll wash away,

             your night He’ll turn to day,

             your life, He’ll make it over again.”         (“If You Want Joy”  by Larry Nickel).

A Joyous Christmas to you all,

Pastor Dave N