Joy to the World!
Today is the third Sunday in Advent and the theme for this particular Sunday each year is joy. If one will pause to reflect on the meaning of this special season he or she cannot help but experience joy. It truly is amazing that the One who created the world became part of it as a vulnerable little baby. John 1:14 says “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” A few verses earlier the Gospel writer says “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (v. 3)
I think a lot of people fail to understand that at Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Creator of the world. Speaking of Jesus the apostle Paul said, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created…” (Colossians 1:15-16)
I realize that during this season we usually focus on how God sent His Son into the world to provide for our salvation but we should also note the amazing fact that in that Bethlehem stable the Creator became a part of the world He created. One of the implications of this for me is that because of the Incarnation we stand on “hallowed ground.” The world is not just “good” as the author of Genesis reminds us; it is holy too.
One of the most popular Christmas carols is “Joy to the World.” The song indicates that because Jesus came there is cause to rejoice. In fact, the song exhorts “heaven and nature” to sing for joy at Christ’s coming. During my trip this past week to southern Utah there were many times I felt like singing God’s praises for the gift of His Son. There were even times when I looked at the incredible beauty of Christ’s Creation that it seemed like nature was ready to sing too. And that is only fitting. When we remember that Jesus is both the world’s Creator and Savior, why shouldn’t “heaven and nature sing”?
–Chuck
(The pictures above were taken this past week at Bryce Canyon National Park.)