Joy to the World!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

This song, unlike many of the other familiar Christmas hymns does not focus on the birth of the baby in a manger. There is no mention of the shepherds or the wise men. In truth this song, although it is a Christmas favorite, is really not about Jesus birth some two thousand years ago.  This song is a declaration of how we should be, how we should respond when Jesus returns, when He comes again, not as a baby, not even to walk among us as a man, but rather to rule and to reign.

In Luke 2, we read the account of the birth of Jesus. In verses 8-11 there is an account of how the news was given to the shepherds who were near the town of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.       In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.    Every time in scripture that we see heaven touching earth, whether in a visitation of angels or the presence of God Himself, there is a human response of awe and fear. In the same way that the angel assured the shepherds saying “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people;” so too do I assure you today that there is no need to fear the next coming of Christ, the one that the text, the song “Joy to the World” speaks of.

Indeed Jesus will not return as a baby. He will not walk among us again as a man. He will return to rule and to reign. But as the song says:  He rules the world with truth and grace.      The psalmist says:  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You. (Psalm 89:14)    There is no need to fear the one who will rule in love, with truth and grace. The song says:   No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found…     Sin and the curse of sin will no longer affect the earth when Jesus returns. So it is only sin which should fear His coming. The song implores us:   Let every heart prepare Him room… the Savior reigns!   John 3:16 says:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”       For whoever believes, for whoever prepares room for the savior in their heart, there is no need to fear, because Christ reigns with love and grace. Sin will be done away with because of His righteousness, justice and truth.

So today, this year, as you celebrate Christmas, as you remember the birth of a baby, in a manger. Do not be afraid. Jesus came as a baby. He lived as a man. He died on the cross as a Savior and Redeemer of all man. He is coming again to rule and reign. But, He is already King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So,    Let every heart prepare Him room… the Savior reigns!  Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King    

Merry Christmas to you all!  May the love and grace of Jesus Christ be with you all and indeed may He come to make His blessings flow; today and throughout the year to come.