The Overjoyed Kings

Matthew 2: 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

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The wise men travelled from a distant land following a star. They passed through Jerusalem first, looking for the King of the Jews. Somehow they knew this from studying the star. King Herod directed them on toward Bethlehem. They may have travelled for a time without the star due to cloudy skies. But they continued. Then at the place where Jesus lay, they saw the star again and were overjoyed.
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These worshippers were not Jews. They travelled a long ways to find the Christ Child. This shows us over again that Christ came not only for one people, but for all nations.
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Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Psalm 67:4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
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In our travels around Europe we have encountered St. Nicholas churches everywhere. For us, he is an image of Santa Claus in a jolly red suit. He is fictional, surrounded by images of materialism.

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But around Europe, from St. Petersburg and Italy to Greece, he is an example of a saint who loved children and took care of them. He is buried in a church in Bari, Italy. The story of how they got his body involves stealing by cloak of night like a trophy. But to them his body reminded the people to Bari to live a more holy life.

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Christ came into the world to bring all peoples and all nations to himself. The church around the world is alive and well - in many places more vibrant than in the US and Europe. Truly His birth was a time of JOY for the world.

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Both photos taken in Bari, Italy in November.

Mary's Joy

John 16:21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her JOY that a child is born into the world.

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We have glorified the manger. By that I mean that we have such lovely, sweet pictures and manger displays set up that look like something from Currier and Ives. We forget that there the Christ Child was born at night in a place that wasn't a house. So it was probably freezing cold. And it was dark. Oh, there may have been an olive oil lantern or a candle burning. But Mary and Joseph were travelling and weren't very rich. So I'll bet you couldn't see very well. And there were animals most likely there - or had been kept there for years. The smell, um, you know what I mean. And if there were animals in there, they were probably very restless and noisy because their nice quiet barn had been invaded.

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Close your eyes and visualize with me. Feel the cold. Imagine it's hard to see in the dark. Smell the animals. Hear a restless sheep piercing the night with his high pitched bleats.

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Now imagine you are a teenager who has never even been intimate, in labor. Truly God did something amazing bringing Jesus into the world in this way; this place. Our verse today calls childbirth under any circumstances anguish.

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But imagine Mary's joy when Jesus was born and she looked into the eyes of the Son of God! Maybe that's why the manger scene looks so lovely and sweet.

Great Joy

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for all the people.

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The shepherds stood in awe to see an angel shining in the sky. The message was one a great JOY. Not just happiness. Not just joy. Great joy.

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I didn't think the month of December would be all that daunting or hectic this year. But here on December 17th I feel exhausted and behind on my to-do list. Yesterday I was an absolute pill around the house. I prayed to find some peace and joy in the midst of it all. I don't want to miss the spiritual wonder of Christmas.

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Give me a piece of that joy, Lord. Great joy.

Incredible joy

Luke 1:44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for JOY.

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The story that goes with our verse of the day is about the moment when Mary, in her first trimester with Jesus, goes to visit her aunt, Elizabeth, who is an elderly woman expecting John the Baptist. Up until this point, Elizabeth has been growing as if pregnant, but the baby has not yet moved. Perhaps some doubt has crouched in her mind. Could this be a tumor instead of a baby? After all she is well along in years.
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Yet the moment Mary (who may not even be obviously pregnant yet) shows up unannounced (no e-mail back then), the child that Elizabeth has been carrying leaps for joy.
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This is incredible. What a confirmation this must have been to Elizabeth about her little miracle. And young Mary may have had her first goosebump moment, as she realizes the power of the Son of God growing within her. It launches the two women into a praise session unparalleled in the Scriptures.
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Incredible joy. The joy of the Christ child.
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Photo taken near our home last week during a frosty day.

Son of Joy

Lu 1:14 He will be a JOY and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth

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This week in advent we will be exploring the theme of JOY, especially related to Christ's birth. Our verse today states what the angel told Zachariah about the birth of their son, John the Baptist.

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This devout couple had been childless into their old age. For them, in the era of Bible times, it was a curse and a stigma. Yet, God allowed them to suffer for awhile so He could show His glory, His power and His divine plan through their lives. In fact they suffered through all the years of their married life.

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But then God gave them a miraculous son who would point the world to the Messiah. And that son would be source of great joy and delight. I can only imagine.

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Sometimes we go through barren times and periods that seem unbearable. I have. But through it all, I find that God has had a purpose for it and He shines through.

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Isaiah 61:3and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

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Photo taken Saturday at Spa, Belgium at their Christmas market.

Third Sunday: Shepherd's Candle

Luke 2: 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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The shepherd had a short night. If one had wanted to catch some sleep while watching the sheep, it was not to be the night of Christ's birth. Those angels came and sang in heavenly chorus. After the angels left, we are told they had a discussion. The consensus was to go into Bethlehem to see that which the angels told them about. I imagine even the sleepiest, the grumpiest or the biggest cynic among them must have been curious, if nothing else.

Once the decision was made to see this spectacle, they hurried to find the the manger with the Christ child. And their lives were never the same again.

One encounter with the Christ child and one is never the same. They left telling everyone they saw about Him. And back at the field, among the bleating, droppings and chill in the air, they found themselves glorifying and praising God. Why? For all they heard and saw was just as they had been told. God is faithful. And He is amazing. What joy!

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Photo taken of a field in Scotland.