Advent Week 3: Joy Brought and Bought By Christ

This week, we look at joy in the context of advent. Joy does not come from our possessions, fortunate circumstances, or feelings we create. Joy comes from a person. His nearness. His very presence. His people can know joy because Christ remains near to His people.

Joy, according to Strong’s concordance, “has several Hebrew (like simcha) and Greek (like chara) roots, generally meaning deep-seated delight, gladness, cheerfulness, or exultation, often a divine gift and inner state (like chara – G5479) rather than mere fleeting emotion, and involving triumphant celebration (agalliasis – G20) or simple, bright happiness (sason – H8342) rooted in God’s presence or deliverance, not just circumstances.”

Scripture testifies over and over that God’s people rejoice because of His presence. Joy from the Lord is because of His guidance, forgiveness, sustenance and presence. What great joy the Christian has found in the presence of our King and His redemption.

We celebrate joy in advent because God has come to dwell with us in the person of Christ. It is the joy of fulfillment. What the covenant fathers believed by faith, what the prophets would foretell, and what the people of God would hold sacred in promise, was born unto us as a Savior in Bethlehem.

Advent is a reminder for us that reminds joy is not the absence of suffering, hardships, or trials – but God himself is near us through it all. The incarnation is a true testimony that God does not save from an unreachable distance. He, through Christ, took on flesh, bore our griefs and sorrows, and paid for our redemption with His own body and blood.

Joy In God’s Salvation

Let’s look at Mary’s Song, the Magnificat in Luke 1:46–55.

Mary’s sings as a young woman facing a lot of BIG unknowns, yet she showcases joy in this glorious truth: God has moved with a mighty act.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46–47, ESV)

Mary finds joy in the midst of the unknown because of God’s faithfulness. This is true for us as Christ followers today. When we face hardships and uncertainty, we do not recite false narratives to put a fake smile on our face because “Christians are supposed to act happy and never be burdened.” Instead, we find joy in the faithfulness of God to His people. Isn’t this what Mary does? She sings a recitation of the joy producing acts of God through his redemptive story! Intentionally take a few moments to read these verses below, as these are but a few of the initiatives taken by God for His people:

[46] And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [48] for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; [49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. [51] He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; [52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; [53] he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. [54] He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, [55] as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Kent Hughes makes this great statement: “Joy erupts when faith recognizes that God is at work, even when circumstances seem to contradict it.”

Joy is Heralded for All People

The definition of true joy can be found in the angel’s announcement from Luke 2:10-11:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

This joy is pronounced for all people and is held sure in the person of Jesus Christ.

He is the Savior who delivers from sin.
He is the Christ and God’s anointed.
He is the Lord who holds all authority.

As we see joy in Advent, we see it through the lens of the Gospel.

“The joy which Christ brings is a joy which the world can neither give nor take away.” JC Ryle

Joy Bought and Bought By Christ

A reality of joy for the believer is that Christ brought joy to his people because He was a humble, obedient and suffering servant. Jesus entered our condition to redeem us from the penalty, power and one day the very presence of sin.

The Apostle Paul traces out the path Jesus took from that manger in Bethlehem to Golgotha’s hill on the cross.

“[5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Paul Tripp writes: “Lasting joy is not found in getting what we want, but in surrendering to what God is doing.”

We look back to the incarnation and we look ahead to our King who will fully and finally come back to reign forever.

Joy Endures Suffering

Jesus embodied how one can have joy in the midst of suffering. Christ endured suffering because of the plan of redemption and the glory it would bring God. This is what the writer of Hebrews would pen down in chapter 12:

“[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. [4] In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

You see, the story of the incarnation and the birth of Jesus does not end there in the manger. It does not end with Him with Him being crushed for our iniquities. Make no mistake, the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 is coming again in glory as the conquering King. He sustains us, set an example for us and will complete His work in us. He is eternally faithful to His promises and to His own, and that brings joy beyond human understanding.

Closing Thoughts

As we think of joy this Advent season, remember that true joy Christian joy is anchored not in the what, but who. His name is Jesus. We know joy because we have received the truth of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit applies that truth to our life. The fruit of the Spirit will lead to a joy filled life. This Advent, may you see that joy is not simply a feeling, but a person. We who are His know that joy itself is not because trouble is gone, but because our Savior is with us.