Read Luke 2:8-20
“Good news of great joy for all the people.” It’s easy to gloss over this statement… Most readily remember this role in various church Christmas plays. And we all know the great joy for all the people, right? We all know the end of the story.
But God didn't wait long to start bringing joy to all the people.
The shepherds in the fields nearby hurried to Bethlehem to seek out a Savior. After spending time with Jesus, they went into the world, to share their story. And people were amazed. The joy to all the people started traveling while Jesus was still swaddled in a manger. The shepherds were glorifying and praising God…the joy continued. The very mother of Jesus, having been given the miraculous gift of a newborn, kept every memory in her joyful heart knowing that great things were to come.
A few verses down, Simeon- a righteous man from Jerusalem- found joy after waiting a lifetime to see the Messiah. Further still, a prophet and widowed woman named Anna found thanksgiving in Jesus and continued to spread this good news of great joy to all who sought redemption. Within a week of his birth, Jesus had transformed lives
This gives me hope because while I know the whole story…some of my friends don't. And even though they don't know the story of the resurrection... it was for them. For all the people. And joy can be found not just in belief, but in one's journey to that belief. Because joy exuded from every morsel of Jesus and in every moment of Jesus. And that joy wasn't meant for me alone, or for the church, or just for the people that knew him then. It was for all the people. Find Joy in Jesus today.
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