The day has finally arrived. After expecting and preparing, today begins the big celebration. We celebrate the gift… we celebrate Jesus. After being in captivity for hundreds of years, and then a period of waiting for hundred years more, Jesus, God’s gift, came to earth to deliver God’s people. Jesus came as a baby, innocent, fragile, and holy. He came as a King, longed for and long expected, who was mighty to save. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus that changed history forever.
He came to bring hope, peace, love and joy to us.
Hope to the world, through a baby who was the prince of peace, the personification of love, and God’s greatest expression of joy. What a gift we have received by receiving Him into our lives. He came to live and never leave. Everyone longs to know that they have someone who will never leave them, disown them, or desert them. Jesus came as Emmanuel, which means, God dwells among us. That means we are never alone. In the moment of our greatest joy, or the deepest season of dispair, Jesus is always there. His Name means that He is always with us. What can know the peace of His permanent presence.
He came as love personified. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. The God of love has come to never leave us, and to abide with us.
This week we celebrate the candle of joy. Joy in new life, joy in new birth, joy in salvation, joy in redemption, and joy in a baby named Jesus. Jesus came to bring us joy unspeakable, full of glory. He brought a little bit of heaven right here to the earth. Heaven’s joy brings rejoicing that surpasses knowledge, and isn’t dependent on circumstances.
Jesus has come…..He brought hope and peace to the world. His love lives on the inside of us. What great joy and comfort that brings. Be filled with His joy throughout Christmas, and all through the year as we welcome Jesus in our world.