CHRISTMAS EVE December 24, 2024
MESSAGE TITLE:
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: THE JOY OF THE GIFT OF JESUS!
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A Christmas Sermon: The Joy of the Gift of Jesus!
Scripture Reading:
Luke 2:10-11
10 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.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Introduction:
We have gathered here to celebrate the climax of this Holy Season. We are
reminded of the improbable yet incredible gift we have been given — Jesus
Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. As believers, we remain in
awe of the prophecy and the fulfillment of that prophecy. We marvel with
great joy at Jesus’ arrival. It is the focus of this message: the
abounding joy Christmas brings to us, to the world, and to all
humanity for all eternity.
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I believe it is fair to say that most see the Christmas season as one filled
with joy. It’s a time when we exchange gifts, share meals, and gather
with loved ones. Maybe some have a bit more pessimistic,
commercialistic view of Christmas. Maybe some are dealing with
difficult memories of challenging times. All of those things, either
special or not to you, tend to be connected to emotions. Not, in any way
diminishing those emotions, but tonight, the focus is on deep and
profound joy in the our celebration of Christmas. It is the joy that
comes from the gift of Jesus Christ. In the simple, yet powerful words of
the angel of the Lord to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring
you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
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GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY!
What is Joy really?
In the Bible, joy is a feeling of contentment and peace that lasts. It is
derived from trusting in the God of the Universe. The God of all things.
The God of all life. Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God.
He certainly is worthy of our trust. He is Almighty God, and He has
demonstrated through the Holy Bible that He is worthy in every way.
We find joy in trusting in Him and His promises. It’s a fruit of the Holy
Spirit that’s a natural part of the Christian faith (See Galatians 5:22-
23).
Tonight, let’s look at some characteristics of biblical joy:
- Joy is a contentment that is deep and internal. Joy is a profound feeling that does not depend on external circumstances or short-lived happiness.
- Joy is a choice. Joy is a choice to value God’s presence, promises, and work in our lives.
- Joy is a transformation. Joy is a work of the Holy Spirit who changes our hearts, minds, and lives.
- Joy is an attitude. Joy is a characteristic of God’s people because of their hope in God, His love, His grace, His mercy, and His promises.
Biblical joy is so much more than a happy feeling. It’s a lasting emotion that
comes from the choice to trust that God will fulfill his promises.
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The Bible gives us clear examples where joy persists in difficult
circumstances.
- Job, who despite losing everything – his family, wealth, and health – still praised God and maintained his faith, demonstrating a deep-rooted joy that transcended his suffering.
- The Israelites sang for joy while suffering slavery in Egypt.
- Apostle Paul, who often spoke of rejoicing even while enduring imprisonment and persecution,
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On Christmas, we celebrate the good news of the prophecies fulfilled, and
selfless, unconditional love coming down. Let’s reflect on what this good news
means for us—what it means for the world, and what it means for all of
eternity.
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The Joy of a Savior Who Has Come
–The arrival of Jesus into the world is, first and foremost, good news.
The angel’s proclamation was not simply a nice sentiment—it was a
world-altering declaration. For centuries, the people of Israel had
waited and longed for the Messiah, the Savior, who would rescue them
from their sin, their brokenness, and their separation from God. The
Angel of the Lord proclaims, “Fear Not.” The birth of Jesus in a humble
manger in Bethlehem was the fulfillment of God’s promise. Think of
it—God Himself, the Creator of the universe, choosing to enter our
world in such a humble and vulnerable way. Not as a conquering king
or a warrior, but as a baby, born to an unassuming young woman and
her fiancé. This is the paradox of Christmas: the infinite, eternal God
making Himself small, making Himself accessible, for the sake of a
broken humanity.
–And that is the essence of the joy we celebrate today—the Savior has
come! We have the full benefit of hindsight. We know that Jesus came
to save. He came to die. He came to become sin that we might be freed
from sin. No longer are we separated from God by sin and death. No
longer are we abandoned in our helplessness. God has come near to us,
in the person of Jesus, to bring salvation, forgiveness, and
reconciliation.
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Luke 2:12-13
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
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The joy of the Savior. It’s beyond emotions. It’s transformative. It is
not based upon some short-lived moment. The Savior has come!
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The Joy of the Gift of Eternal Life
The joy of Christmas is not only in the birth of Jesus but in the purpose
of His coming. Jesus didn’t come merely to be admired or worshipped
from a distance. He came to offer us the greatest gift of all: eternal life
with God.
Jesus would go on to teach about the kingdom of God, to heal the sick,
to raise the dead, and to demonstrate the depth of God’s love through
His actions and teaching. Ultimately, He gave His life on the cross,
taking upon Himself the punishment for our sins, so that all who believe
in Him might have eternal life. He was born that we may have life.
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John 3:16-17
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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This is the true reason we can have joy—because through the birth of
Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, we have been given the
gift of eternal life. This is not just a future promise but a present reality
for those who trust in Him. The joy of Christmas is not confined to one
day of the year but spills over into every day, as we live in the hope of
the eternal life that Jesus has secured for us. Therefore, I encourage
you tonight if you have not done so. Accept this gift. Repent. Turn
from sin. Turn to God. Have faith and live blessed in eternal,
unspeakable joy! Believers. Go tell it on the mountain. Over the hills
and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born! That the King of King and
Lord of Lords began His reign.
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The Joy of Reconciliation with God
One of the greatest joys we experience at Christmas is the reconciliation
we have with God through Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that sin
separated us from God.
Isaiah 59:1-2
1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
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However, through Jesus, we are brought back into relationship with our
Creator. Jesus is the bridge between a Holy God and sinful humanity.
This reconciliation is not just a restoration of relationship—it’s the
beginning of a new life. Through Jesus, we have been given the
Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live lives of love, grace, mercy, and
service. We are no longer bound by the power of sin or fear of death. We
can now walk in the freedom of God’s love and forgiveness. If we can
imagine the joy that comes when two estranged people are reconciled.
The pain and division are healed, and peace is restored. In a much
greater way, this is what Christ’s birth and sacrifice offer to us: peace
with God and peace with one another. This produces an attitude of
everlasting joy. Our hopes have been fulfilled. “Glory to God in the
Highest” the Angels proclaimed in Luke 2. Joy in being reconciled to
giver of life. Joy in being in a right relationship with our God, Our
Creator, yet our loving Heavenly Father.
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The Joy That Transcends Circumstances
Joy at Christmas is more than just about celebrating a baby born in a
manger—it’s about a deep, unshakable joy that is rooted in the arrival
of our Savior. This joy transcends our circumstances, our struggles, and
our pain. In the midst of hardship, we can have joy because of what
Jesus has accomplished. This joy isn’t tied to material gifts or
temporary pleasure or pain for that matter. It is grounded in the
unchanging truth that God is with us, that He has come to save us, and
that He has promised to be with us always.
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Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).
The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
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This is coming from a person who was in prison at the time he was
writing this letter to the church in Phillippi. The joy that we have in
Christ is a joy that is not dependent on what is happening around us
but, on the eternal, truth of who God is and what He has done for us in
Jesus. No matter the circumstances. Rejoice in the Lord!
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The Eternal Joy of Jesus’ Arrival
As this Christmas season reaches its climax on the day we celebrate Our
Savior’s birth, let us remember that the joy we celebrate is not just a
fleeting emotion or a seasonal feeling. It is the joy of knowing that God
has not left us in our brokenness but has entered into our world, in the
most humble way imaginable, to give us the greatest gift of all: Himself.
Through Jesus, we have been given the joy of salvation, the joy of
reconciliation with God, the joy of eternal life, and the joy of a new way
of life. This is the good news that causes great joy for all the people. It
is the gift of Christmas that transforms our hearts, our lives, and our
eternity.
So, let us rejoice today—not just in the birth of a baby in Bethlehem but
in the profound and eternal truth that the Savior has come. He has come
to save us, to heal us, and to give us the joy of knowing that we are
forever loved by God.
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Merry Christmas! May the joy of Jesus fill your hearts, today & always.
Amen.