Christmas reminds us of God’s gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love we’ve received through Jesus Christ. 

In this reflection we look at how Jesus Christ is the source of our Joy, and how does it has to do with Christmas. 

We’ll use Luke 1:26-38 as the foundation for our reflection. You can read the whole chapter on your own if you want. 

 

 

The Lord is with you!

 

 

Read verses 28 through 30,

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

You’ve got to understand that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was just a teenager when all of this took place. Also, she was not yet even married but only engaged to Joseph. 

Receiving the news, which was so much contrary to everything both Joseph and she believed in, and from a stranger (an angel in a form of a man), set Mary up for a lot of fear and confusion. 

As the above scripture says it, she was “troubled,” “confused,” and in “a lot of fear.” Who wouldn’t? 

But, what comforted Mary through this message is the fact that the angel had said: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Not only had Mary found favor with God, but she was also highly favored and that the Lord was with her. 

God’s presence is what you and I need. When God is on your side, who can stand against you? 

No one or nothing can separate us from God’s love, which God shows to us through Jesus Christ. And, his birth (the first Christmas). 

Christmas is a reminder of God’s presence and love for all human beings. God’s presence means that even though you’re in fear, confused, and troubled, God’s favor for you is so much greater than any of your fears or anything you’re facing right now! 

 

 

The good news of Christmas

 

 

The good news that comes with Christmas is grounded in the name Mary and Joseph had to give to the baby: Jesus. 

Read verses 31 through 33, 

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Jesus is the Son of the Most High and represents a new beginning, era, and season for us all. Being the Son of God means that He, just like God the Father, changes everything.

Nothing or no one can stop Jesus because He is God’s Son. He is God and is one with the Father. 

While Christmas means a new beginning, it also means a new rule in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin and the power of death. 

The Lord, our God, and Father has given Jesus the throne of David. And, Jesus reigns on everyone forever. His kingdom does not end. 

 

 

How is it possible to experience Joy through Christmas? 

 

 

Read verses 34 through 37, 

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Mary, after listening to the angel, and also showing her confusion, fear, and trouble about what the angel referred to as good news, asked him: “how is this even possible?” 

Remember she was engaged to Joseph, and they were not yet married. So, there was no way for her to have a child. 

The angel answered saying three things: 

• The Holy Spirit will come upon you. 
• The power of the Highest will overshadow you. 
• With God nothing is impossible. 

Our Joy comes from all the above because that’s what Christmas is all about: God is with us! 

We experience God’s presence and power through the Holy Spirit. That experience was made possible through the birth (coming) of Jesus Christ into this world. And, that took place on the first Christmas Day. 

Through faith in Jesus Christ, God ushers us into a realm of unlimited possibilities of who we can become. God also draws us closer to Himself. While He claims us as His children, we also claim Him as our Heavenly Father. 

 

 

Bringing it together

Christmas reminds us that God is with each one of us. In other words, we have God on our side. And, because of that, who can stand against us? Who or what can separate us from the love of God? With God on our side, God has also ushered in a world of unlimited possibilities of who we can become through faith in Christ. That is the source of our Joy!