Luke 2:8-11

Did you hear about the tornado that hit Kentucky yesterday killing so many people? (We need to pray for those who were affected.) Did you hear about the 15-year-old who shot and killed four classmates in Michigan? What about the newest variant of COVID, omicron?

If you watch CNN, you get fake news. If you watch Fox News, you get half news. But if you notice, the majority of news you hear is bad news. They say it’s because bad news sells, but let me share with you some good news.

The world had waited about 3,000 years since sin entered into the world, but now the hour had come. Prophesies from the old testament were being fulfilled. Jesus has come!

The bible says in Luke 2:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Good tidings = good news!

Why would the angel proclaim Christ’s birth as an occasion of great joy? What is joy? We tend to equate “happiness” with joy, but they are two different ideas. Happiness is dependent on what is happening to us. Joy is not affected by external happenings. Joy is a state of mind that is characterized by peace – stability despite life’s inconsistencies. Joy cannot be found in pleasure, wealth or riches, fame or prestige.

So why did the angel proclaim Christ’s birth as an occasion of “great joy?”