Introduction
This morning we are going to begin a new preaching series aimed at helping us to recognize those aspects of hope, peace, joy, and love that God so generously modeled for us 2000 years ago. In addition, we are also going to explore how that model is still active and alive right now. Today we are going to begin with joy, that unabashed, child-like emotion that God has for us and that we would be wise to rekindle in ourselves.
Have You Jumped Lately?
In my lifetime I have come to understand that the older we get, the less joy we exhibit. Now do not get me wrong, as individuals we still get happy. Just not as happy. Case in point, my sons Parker and Wesley. This week Debbie and I decided that it was time to start decorating the house for Christmas. We got out our calendars, looked at what night would be best and begin to develop a plan. No joy, no excitement. We were not unhappy about it, but we had relegated it to a chore in our mind. Just something else that had to get done. Now for the boys, as soon as they heard the word decorations, or maybe it was the word Christmas, they came tearing into the living room. We were literally taken aback by the emotion that was right in front of us. These two boys were smiling, jumping, and talking a mile a minute. “When can we start?” “When can we do to help?” “I want to do the tree!” “I want to put up the Santas!” Their joy was uncontainable, uncontrollable, and quite frankly awesome to experience. I then became very cognizant of how I had approached the decorating. I looked at it as a task. These boys were viewing it as a wonderful opportunity to see the house transformed into a Christmas wonderland, to see lights and bright colors splashed all around, and their joy and jumping about expressed that.
When was the last time you jumped? As an adult, when was the last time your feet left this earth, voluntarily mind you, and you actually jumped for joy? The only place where adults give each other permission to jump is at a sporting event, as a player scores the winning touchdown, basket, or goal. Other than that, I do not see too many adults jump. We're pretty shy about expressing so much giddy happiness that we literally jump for joy. We leave that to children. And in fact, in today's gospel reading it's a child who jumps for joy when the miracle of Christmas first appears.
Jumping Johnny!
In his first prophetic act, the still unborn John the Baptist leaped in his mother Elizabeth's womb when Mary walked in and greeted her cousin. The reason for the child's joy jump at the sound of Mary's voice was given to Elizabeth through the accompanying presence and interpretive power of the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth pregnant with a miracle child herself, recognizes that her cousin Mary is pregnant, and that she has been chosen to be "the mother of my Lord" (verse 43). The messiah himself is now before Elizabeth and her unborn child. This awesome proximity immediately fills Elizabeth and Zechariah's small home with all the joy, all the hopes, all the prayers for the redeeming messiah that the people of God have been waiting for. Redemption is at hand. No wonder the yet-to-be-born John the Baptist jumps for joy.
Jesus Is Happy!
Now I ask you to take a moment and think about every representation, movie, painting, or caricature, you have ever seen portraying Jesus. My guess is that most of you are picturing a serious, stoic, somber Jesus. Why is that? Leonard Sweet once remarked asking what evidence do we have that Jesus was always some “tall, long-locked, solemn, sermon-spouting fellow who walks as though he is treading on eggshells and whose face always looks as though he has just finished sucking on a big kosher dill.” Many of you have heard me say that my favorite depiction of Jesus is the portrait called “Laughing Jesus”. In this picture his head is cocked back, his mouth wide open, and he is giving this enormous belly-laugh. His whole face is absolutely lit up!
That is how I envision my Savior. Look at Scripture and the situations Jesus found himself a part of, the miracles that he performed. How many times do we read about people clamoring to get close to him? About Jesus being forced into a boat because there were so many people on the shore, that he ran out of land? About people climbing trees, houses, and cutting through crowds just to touch, glimpse, or hear our Savior speak? As humanity we want to be around those people that make us happy. So if that many people, time and time again, are going to these great lengths to be around Jesus, I cannot believe that Jesus was a 24/7 somber, solemn, and joy-less person.
Forgetting about the personality aspect for a moment, think about the miracles that Jesus performed. Remember the paralytic man in the Gospel of Mark that was lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus. After being paralyzed for years, when he got up, picked up his mat, and walked, do you think Jesus just sat there? I would have to think these men grabbed each other and jumped around in circles, ecstatic at what just took place.
Remember the daughter of Jarius who died? Mark 5: 40b-42 tells us, Jesus came and “...after he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. Do think Jarius was not overjoyed to point of jumping. Surely Jesus, who so loved to have children surround him, scooped her up and swung her around in delight, for her life was a miracle. We can be here for the next several hours recounting story after story of the wondrous things Jesus did that would have had to cause joy in the people affected.
Jesus: The Joy Maker
From today's gospel text we learn that the first reaction, from the unborn John the Baptist, to Jesus' presence on earth, of God-in-our-midst, was joy. Joy so tremendous, joy so utterly overwhelming that it must somehow escape the bounds of earth itself and jump towards the heavens.
In John Ortberg's wonderful book The Life You've Always Wanted (Zondervan, 2002), he writes: “We will not understand God until we understand this about him: 'God is the happiest being in the universe' (G. K. Chesterton). God knows sorrow….but [his sorrow like his anger] is his temporary response to a fallen world. That sorrow will be banished forever from his heart on the day the world is set right. Joy is God's basic character. God is the happiest being in the universe.”
My favorite verse in Scripture is from the Old Testament, from the book of Zephaniah, not one that would typically make your favorite verse list. But I invite you to close your eyes and listen to the words: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Think about that. God sings a song of joy over you!
Joy is part and parcel of Christmas. Whether it is sparked by any number of family traditions such as the trees, carols, cookies, or presents, all of these are expressions of the joy that was given to us with the birth of Jesus.
Even His Birth Announcement Brings Joy!
This birth of Jesus was not only a miracle but a tremendously huge ordeal for the teenage mother. Remember now, Mary, probably just entering her teens, is engaged and an angel appears to her with this unbelievable news that she has found favor with God and will give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Mary is also told that her older, previously believed barren cousin, is already six months pregnant with a son of her own. This causes Mary to travel the 70 miles or so to see her cousin Elizabeth and that is where we experience Elizabeth’s baby jumping for joy. All of this helps to bring Mary joy about this event and she responds in song with what is often called “the Magnificat.” In fact that song is what our Call to Worship was based upon this morning.
Mary found joy in this all of this. Listen to her words: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be with me as you have said.” Mary had a deep trust and faith in God that carried her through even times when she could have questioned and doubted the wisdom of God’s plan for her. She had surrendered her life into the hands of the Almighty and trusted him to take care of her. That’s how she was able to journey into peace and joy instead of sorrow or bitterness over her upcoming journey.
Conclusion
This time of year can and does cause a whole range of emotions. This year I encourage you to find the joy that was intended with the birth of Jesus. Surrender your fears, your questions, and your doubts to the Almighty. Know that the One that sings a song of joy over you has delivered you. Delivered you from sin and death, and provided a way for you to experience joy not of this world. This joy is freely given to you so that you may be encouraged, uplifted, and affirmed. This joy is freely given to you so that you may freely give it to others. I pray you know joy this year in a way that is deeper and wider than you have ever known before.
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