Joy to the World
Enough Joy to Share
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
Luke 2:15-18 ESV
These shepherds had an amazing story to tell. An angel in the night, an astonishing announcement, and then an entire host of angels giving glory to God—all of this right in the middle of their flocks of sheep! Not only that, this baby Messiah, born in Bethlehem, was lying in a manger—which the angel had told them He would be.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:20 ESV
The very first thing the shepherds did after the angels appeared to them was to go and see Jesus. They did not hesitate or question what they had been told. They believed and acted. And their joy increased as they found Jesus and relayed their experiences to those who were there. Afterward, they went back to their flocks and fields, rejoicing still.
It’s hard to put ourselves in their place, and to imagine what they must have felt—the wonder, the joy, and the mystery of all they heard and saw. What we can easily understand is the amazement we all feel when we study a newborn baby. Look around you this week, there’s probably a baby somewhere nearby (at church, in a store, in your neighborhood, perhaps in your family or even your home.)
Allow the wonder of a tiny human to overwhelm you for a few minutes. What would it mean if the baby right in front of you was also God incarnate? It really happened. People, like the shepherds, really got to look into a little face with those barely focused eyes and know that they were seeing God come to earth. It’s too incredible to fully take in.
We can react like the shepherds and move closer to Jesus and share the wonder with others around us. When you see a baby this week, stop and linger for a moment letting the wonder and joy overtake you. And if you are able, tell someone close by, “This is how God came to be with us. Jesus started out His life, just like this!”
Because the joy and wonder of Jesus is for all people.
There is joy enough to share.
Joy for the whole world.
Consider & Comment
Where do you find the wonder of Christmas?
Has someone recently shared joy with you?
Have you recently shared joy with someone else?
