The Christmas Story: The Story of Joy

Introduction

In 1719 the great hymn writer Isaac Watts published a work called "Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament." Included in the work was a piece based on Psalm 98. As William

J. Reynolds wrote, "While the initial stanza announces that 'The Lord is come,' it is the only stanza that is related to Christmas and the birth of Jesus. The other stanzas could easily be appropriate for any season of the year. There is no mention of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the manger, or the wise men. Yet, who would deny this hymn a choice place among the traditional carols?" Reynolds goes on to mention "the exuberant joy that permeates the psalm." And no wonder, for it is entitled "Joy To The World." A New England music educator named Lowell Mason published a tune in 1839 that has become indelibly associated with the words, but Isaac Watt's original words have a message that transcends the music.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.

He comes to make his blessings flow Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love.

There is perhaps no more joyous occasion than the announcement that a family is going to have a baby. And there was no such greater announcement than when Mary was told that the human family was about to be added to by the fruit of her womb. But this would be no ordinary birth, for God was the Father; and it would be no ordinary baby, for it would be the God-man. The events described in this text are often called the "Annunciation," which simply means the foretelling of Christ's birth. But this was more than a simple birth announcement; this was a message of "Joy To The World!"

Every year, the Christmas story is repeated, and this year will be no different. But as we begin to think about the Christmas story from Luke 1 tonight, I want to remind you that The Christmas Story Is A Story Of Joy. Notice first that...

I. There Is An Announcement In This Story

A. There Was A Messenger

1. He Was An Angelic Messenger - Luke 1:26

Luke 1:26

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2). But, on occasion, He used an angel to communicate a specific word to some member of humanity. Gabriel, whose name means "the mighty one," has already made one appearance and one announcement in Luke 1 as he appeared to Zacharias. As he introduces himself to Zacharias he says, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings" (Luke 1:19). He would seem to be God's personal messenger, one who awaits God's divine bidding. He is an angelic messenger. We really have no biblical foundation to call him an archangel, and he doesn't seem to be a seraphim or cherubim, but the fact that Gabriel is an angel is indisputable. The term "angel," which means, "messenger," is used ten times in the first chapter of Luke in referring to Gabriel.

2. He Was An Accomplished Messenger

Daniel 8:16; Luke 1:19

This divinely appointed envoy is an accomplished messenger. This is not his first assignment. On two occasions, Gabriel came to present the meaning of visions to Daniel (Daniel 8:16; 9:21). He appears to Zacharias here in Luke 1 to proclaim a miracle, and we then see him in his finest hour as he is sent to Mary (Luke 1:26).

3. He Was An Admiring Messenger

Luke 1:28

The Bible says that "the angels desire to look into" the things that God does in man's behalf (1 Peter 1:12). This angel Gabriel is seen as an appreciative messenger, one who cannot help but admire what God is doing in the life of Mary. He says, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28).

B. There Was A Message

1. A Message Of Consolation

Luke 1:30

A messenger is not a messenger without a message. Gabriel's message to Mary first involved a word of consolation. Now I have never received a visit from an angelic emissary nor do I expect to, but I think that if I ever did I would, with Mary, be troubled about it. But "the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God" (Luke 1:30).

2. A Message Of Conception

Luke 1:31

This message further involved a word about conception. "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).

a. The Miracle Of It - Luke 1:35

There is certainly a miraculous aspect to all of this. The virgin birth is foundational to everything that we believe. It is vital to our faith and our doctrine.

b. The Mandate Of It

The Name - Jesus Meaning, "Jehovah Is Salvation"

There is also a mandate in the words of Gabriel. "Call His name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). Now Mary and Joseph didn't have to get the name books out. When our children were on the way, that was one of our biggest points of controversy! What are we going to name them? This was never a concern with Mary and Joseph. This name "Jesus" is a New Testament equivalent to the Old Testament name, "Joshua" meaning "Jehovah is Salvation." That summarizes everything that Jesus is.

3. A Message Of Confirmation

Luke 1:36-27

Gabriel goes a step further giving Mary a word of confirmation. After clarifying that the conception would be a work of the Holy Ghost, as if to give Mary a further proof of God's mighty and marvelous works, he says, "And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:36-37). If God can give conception to a barren, void womb, He can give conception by the Holy Ghost to a virgin womb. And because the "son is given" (Isaiah 9:6), He can bring life to the empty place in your heart. What a wonderful message of "joy to the world."

II. There Is An Amazement In This Story

Luke 1:29 states, "And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be."

Look at the world "troubled" - Greek 1298. diatarasso, dee-at-ar-as'-so; means to disturb wholly, i.e. agitate (with alarm).

A. Notice The Amazed Recipient

Again we read in Luke 1:27, "To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary."

1. We Should Consider Mary's Purity

"To a virgin." This astonished young lady named Mary receives a message from God by means of an angel. There are some important marks of distinction in Mary's life that we should mention. First of  all we notice her purity. The Bible says that Gabriel appeared unto a "virgin" (Luke 1:27). She has lived a clean life. No gross immorality or sin was in the life of Mary. God desires to use clean vessels. He desires to use those who are pure and devoted. In Mary, He finds such a vessel.

2. We Should Consider Mary's Promise

Strong's number 3933 refers to the Greek word "parthenos," par-then'-os; of unknown or.; a maiden; by impl. an unmarried daughter:--virgin.

The Bible tells us that she is "espoused to a man whose name was Joseph" (Luke 1:27). She had been given, not just a proposal, but also a promise of marriage. Espousal was a little stronger than our modern custom of engagement. The espousal involved a time period of about a year in which there was commitment, preparation and purification prior to cohabitation. Mary and Joseph had not lived in the same household, nor shared the intimacy of marriage. But by the time Jesus is born there is both a mother and a stepfather who are both called "the parents" (Luke 2:27). God saw to it that this would be no single-parent household.

3. We Should Consider Mary's Parentage

"And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli...." (Luke 3:23)

Now in Matthew's genealogy, we are told that Joseph was the son of Jacob, but there is no controversy. Dr. Scofield indicates that Heli would have been Mary's father, thus making Joseph the son-in-law of Heli. It is interesting to me that Joseph's genealogical record in Matthew 1 goes as far back as Abraham. Here, this genealogical background of Mary and thus of Jesus, goes all the way back to God - to Adam who, according to Luke 3:38, was the son of God. Jesus could say, "On my earthly father's side, I am a Hebrew son; but on my mother's side, and thus my real Father's side, I am a Heavenly son."

B. Notice The Amazed Response

1. There Is The Worried Response Of Her Humanity

(Luke 1:34-35) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? {35} And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

a. Notice Her Concern

Gabriel has revealed to Mary all of these details about the greatness and identity of her coming son in this annunciation or announcement. What is her response? Luke 1:34 says, "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" To me, this is a legitimate question. From the basic standpoint of biology, every child has a father and a mother. In verse 18, Zacharias  seemed to say, "Prove it." But here, Mary seems to say, "Explain it, How?"

b. Notice His Clarification

He Will Be A Child Of The Holy Ghost He Will Be A Child Of Holy Goodness

"holy thing" - Greek 40. hagios, meaning sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated.

Gabriel begins to explain in verse 35, "the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee." Do you think that this resolved all the questions in her heart?

Probably not. How are you going to explain the "immaculate conception?" Mary probably still had some questions, but she finds out that God is at the very heart of what is going to transpire. We consider again that in verse 36 further proof is offered by telling her of Elizabeth's conception in her old age - far beyond childbearing years. Gabriel offers a very powerful word to Mary in verse 37 when he says, "With God, nothing shall be impossible." Cf. Genesis 18:13-14

2. There Is The Willing Response Of Her Humility

(Luke 1:38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

"handmaid" - Greek 1399. doule, meaning a female slave.

Nothing impresses us more than the calmness with which, after the first trouble was past, the virgin received the message of the angel. She was not dazzled nor excited by her glorious future. She was not touched by any vanity. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord." In nothing more than in this is the simple greatness of her character displayed. What was the reason of this? It was that the thought of God's presence with her destroyed all thought of self. She could not think of her greatness otherwise than as bestowed by God. "He that is mighty hath magnified me." She could not feel the flutter of vanity. It died in the thought of the glorious salvation, which was coming to her country and the world. She was nothing; God was all.(Stopford A. Brooke from The Biblical Illustrator)

3. There Is The Wonderful Response Of Her Heart

"Be it unto me according to thy word." She says, "God, whatever you want to do in my life, I'm in favor of it." Oh, that we could get to that place in our Christian experience! God, whatever you want, that's what I want.

III. There Is An Aftermath In This Story

A. Notice Mary's Journey In The Aftermath Of This Story

1. We See The Peculiarity Of Her Course

To Zacharias, A Priest

Note Deuteronomy 22:15-21

(Luke 1:39-40) And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; {40} And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

Now Mary has conceived of the Holy Ghost, but according to Deuteronomy 22, when a man and a woman would come into the bonds of matrimony and it was found that the woman was not a virgin when she enters into that commitment, she is worthy of stoning. We know that Mary is a virgin. The Bible is very clear on that. But Mary goes to the home of a priest - the one whose duty it was to uphold the Mosaic law. And according to that law, if one was found to have broken those espousal obligations, they are worthy of stoning. She travels a peculiar course. But Mary knows there's nothing within her that is worthy of stoning and so she goes directly to the home of her cousin Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias.

2. We See The Proof From Her Cousin

Luke 1:36-41

When she arrives there, there is a proof from her cousin. Luke 1:41 says, "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb." I do not find in this context that Mary has yet told Elisabeth of the conception, but Elisabeth is filled with the Holy Ghost and she knows and she worships.

3. We See The Praise Of An Unborn Child

Luke 1:41-44

As Elisabeth sees Mary, the Bible says that John the Baptist, the babe, leaped in her womb. There is the praise of an unborn child. John starts having a spell! What would they have heard if they had ultrasound technology in that hour? Maybe John would have been saying what he was saying some thirty years later, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

B. Notice Mary's Joy In The Aftermath Of This Story

The annunciation given by Gabriel to Mary might be called a message of "joy to the woman." When John the Baptist leapt inside his mother's womb, we are confronted with "joy in the womb." In Luke 1:46-55, we see Mary breaking into a word of praise. We might well call this her song of "joy to the world." This has often been paralleled to Hannah's word of praise in 1 Samuel 2. "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name" (Luke 1:46-49).

1. She Expresses Joy For God's Consideration Of Her

(Luke 1:48-49) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. {49} For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

She rejoices in God's consideration of her, how that God has come down to where she was. And may I say with the songwriter, "When I could not come to where he was, He came to me!"

2. She Expresses Joy For God's Control Over Humanity

Luke 1:50-55

His Mercy Luke 1:50

His Might Luke 1:51-55

In Scattering The Proud Luke 1:51b-52a In Sustaining The Poor Luke 1:52b-54

God rules in the affairs of men in His mercy and in His might, in scattering the proud and in sustaining the poor!

3. She Expresses Joy For God's Compassion And Help

(Luke 1:54-55) "He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; {55} As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever."

holpen - Greek 482. antilambanomai, meaning to take hold of in turn, i.e. to succor; also to participate:--help, partaker support.

Conclusion

Even as Gabriel's announcement to Mary is often called the "annunciation," Mary's words of

praise in these final portions of scripture are often called the "magnificat." These events and passages might appropriately be called by such names, but to me and to all who have savingly benefited and believed in the Christ who came, it is truly a message of "Joy To The World!"

We began by talking about one song of joy. I want to close by mentioning another song of joy written by Henry Van Dyke in 1907. Van Dyke said about his song, "These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time ... a hymn of trust and joy and hope." It goes like this...Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;