Christmas Joy

As we inch closer to Christmas we often hear the word joy thrown around, and there certainly should be joy at Christmas. But our secular society has hijacked this word. I did a simple online search using the word joy in Christmas advertising, and among other things I found a Starbucks ad that said “Share Joy With Buy One-Get One” drinks. Gadbury had an ad that said “Unwrap Joy.” GameStop’s ad touted “Joy to the Players.” Dollar Tree invited shoppers to “Spread the Joy” in their stores. Big Lots promised “Joy is in Store.” I don’t blame the advertisers for these tactics; they are doing business. But they operate from a dishonest premise, telling customers that their products will bring joy. They may bring a minute or more of happiness as we drink the coffee, eat the chocolate, or play the games, but that is not real joy. 

Joy should be associated with Christmas because the birth of Christ brought the real reason for joy. In Luke 2:10 the angel told the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” Why? “For unto you a child is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” We can have real joy at Christmas because of Christmas. The great joy of which the angel spoke is that Jesus was born into the world to be our Lord and Savior. 

I believe it is important for us to have a good definition of real joy. John Piper has defined it as “a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world.” A simpler definition would just be a good feeling deep down that has nothing to do with circumstances. The world can’t give joy, and neither can it take it away. Starbucks, Gadbury, Big Lots, and the others cannot give us joy, no matter how good their products may be. 

If joy doesn’t come from a store, then where can we find it? Piper said it comes from the Holy Spirit, and he is right. Galatians 5:22 lists joy as being fruit that the Spirit produces in the life of a believer. It is possible to be sick, sad, or tired, and still have joy because Jesus is still Lord and Savior. If your sins have been forgiven, if Jesus is preparing you a home in heaven, then you can have real and abiding joy. 

We get joy from the Holy Spirit, but also by being connected to Jesus the Vine. In John 15:11 He told the disciples, “These things I have spoken unto you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” This was in reference to the disciples being the branches and Jesus being the vine. So long as we stay connected to Him, we can have joy even in difficult times. 

The shepherds had joy at that first Christmas, and so did Mary. In the Magnificat of Luke 1, Mary sang, “My spirit rejoices (has joy in) in God my Savior (v.47).” Even if our circumstances are not what we want them to be (remember, Mary was unmarried and pregnant), we can still have joy at Christmas because of Christmas—because God broke into our world to bring salvation to all who call upon Him. That is plenty of reason to have joy this Christmas!