News of Great Joy

I’m a news junkie. Give me a spare moment, and I’ll be checking for the latest news. A lot of news these days is bad: wars, disasters, the pandemic, and conflicts. Some is better, but how often is there an item that is good news of great joy for all people?

There are at least three reasons that the birth of Jesus is such good news — for everyone.

The greatest joy in life is to know God, and Jesus came to reveal God to us. In his gospel, John writes And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Although there had been many prophets and teachers, Jesus was God in visible form. We can truly know him, and in coming to know him, know the Father.

However, to meet God in all of his goodness and holiness is not safe for sinful people. Isaiah saw God in all his holiness and his immediate thought was: “Woe is me! For I am lost.” (Isaiah 6:5) But Jesus came to provide for our salvation: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

The birth was also good news because Jesus came to establish an eternal kingdom: He will reign … and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:33. Jesus would win his crown by means of a cross. He has promised to return. Now that is truly good news!

Jesus, today we take great joy in your coming. We seek to know you more deeply, to live in your redeeming grace more fully, and to live as citizens of your eternal kingdom more faithfully. Thank you for coming for us!

Throughout This Day: Celebrate with a grateful heart the greatest, truest news of all time!