Good Tidings Of Great Joy

Read

Luke 2:10-11 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

Think

The angel’s proclamation to the shepherds on that first Christmas night was earth-shattering: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). It wasn’t just an announcement; it was the arrival of hope, the fulfillment of promises made long ago, and the beginning of a joy that would change the world forever.

Imagine the shepherds in the fields, overlooked by society, shivering under the stars in the stillness of the night. Suddenly, Heaven opened, and an angel appeared, bathed in God’s glory, declaring news that wasn’t just good—it was the best news ever told. The Savior had come, not for the elite, but for them. For the forgotten. For everyone.

But why is this news of great joy? Joy isn’t fleeting happiness or a momentary thrill—it’s a deep, abiding gladness that transcends circumstances. It’s the joy of knowing that, through Jesus, everything broken can be restored, every sin forgiven, and every sorrow met with eternal hope. As Charles Spurgeon said, “There is no joy in this world like the joy of knowing you are loved by Christ.” This joy comes not from what we do but from what he has done—stepping into our darkness to be our light, our Savior, our Emmanuel.

This joy is for all people, but it’s also deeply personal. It meets us in our pain, our fears, and our doubts, reminding us that God’s love reaches even the darkest corners of our hearts. NT Wright calls it a “subversive joy” because it turns the world’s expectations upside down, declaring that God’s kingdom has come to the humble, the broken, and the weary.

The shepherds didn’t keep this joy to themselves. After seeing the baby in the manger, they ran to tell everyone what they had witnessed. Joy isn’t meant to be hoarded—it’s meant to overflow.

This Christmas, let’s embrace the good tidings of great joy as more than a story. Let it fill our hearts, transform our lives, and inspire us to share the incredible news: the Savior has come.

Apply

Like the shepherds, share the joy of Jesus with someone this week. It could be as simple as inviting them to a Christmas service, sharing a Scripture, or having a conversation about what Christmas really means to you.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be our Savior, our light in the darkness, and the source of unshakable joy. Fill my heart with the same wonder and awe that the shepherds felt that night. Help me to embrace your joy, even in the midst of challenges, and to share it with others through my words and actions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.