Celebration

              Celebration with Expectation!

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them. ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manager.” Luke 2:9-12 

Christmas is filled with the joy of celebration and great expectation.  Christmas is a celebration of the God of this universe, coming down to earth, taking on a human form as a baby in a manager, bringing Heaven, Angels and His glory with Him.  
       

If our expectations of joy are limited to presents under the tree, spending time with our friends and family, decorating, partying and programs, this could bring disappointments.  Our expectations must be greater than any manmade Christmas.  Christmas was made by God when he loved us more than anything to send His only begotten Son into this dark world.  Jesus is the light of the world because He gives us life and salvation.  In Him our sins are forgiven.  In Him we have peace with God.  In Him we have joy everlasting.  In Him there is hope.

       

There is usually joy when a healthy baby is born into the world.  When Jesus was born there was a manifestation of the Glory of God, angels and a great expectation of joy.  When we understand that the baby of Bethlehem was destined to be the Christ of the Cross, because he was born to be the savior of the world, then and only then we will understand why there was joy to all people.  Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  True joy comes when we realize that death could not hold our Lord in the grave.  True joy comes when angels rejoice when one sinner repents and believes.  (Luke 15:10)  True joy comes in knowing He lives now in our hearts and He is coming again.   

        

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:25-28 

 

The Gospel of Luke 2:9-12 describes the glory of the Lord that shone around the shepherds when the angel announced the savior’s birth.  Luke also tells us Jesus promised that he will return with power and great glory.  These two events frame the purpose for which the Son of God came into the world.  Here the scripture tells us how the people will have their hearts set on the expectation of things that will be coming upon the earth, causing fear and disappointment.  The scripture tells us that we should set our expectations on Jesus coming back with power and great glory.  Proverb 10:28 says “The hope of the righteous brings joy; but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”  I believe the whole universe is preparing the coming of the Lord of lords and the King of kings.  Just like the expectation of the wise men, the King was to be born and when they saw the star they rejoice exceedingly with great joy.  (Matthew 2:10) 

 

The bible tells us that there over 1,500 prophecies of His second coming.  There are over 60 prophecies of his birth and crucifixion.  Isaiah 7:14 says “He would be born of a virgin.”  This was hundreds of years before Jesus came.  In Psalms 22:16 it says “they pierced His hands and feet.”  This referred to the crucifixion and was foretold hundreds of years earlier.  The probability of these prophecies coming true is like taking a spoonful of water, spilling it into the ocean and then dipping that same spoonful of water back out.  Nothing is impossible to God.

 

Matthew 16:27 says “For the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father with angels, and then He will reward each according to what he has done”.  John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  If Jesus says He is coming back, believe me He is coming back just the way He said He would.  The news about the coming of the King is only good news (good tidings of great joy) when you come to know Him and to love Him like the scripture reveals to us. 


Don’t let this Christmas season overwhelm you.  Don’t feel that you have to do everything.  Instead take time every day to focus on Jesus.  He is our hope and true expectation of life.