In addition to listening to Christmas music, I love hearing the Christmas story, regardless of how many times I have read it or heard it told. While the shepherds tended their flocks, their “routine” night was suddenly interrupted by an angel who shattered the darkness with blinding light. Trembling in fear as they saw the “glory of the Lord,” the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people” (Lk. 2:10). So, what was that “good news?” The angel continued, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born, He is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11). He is both “Messiah” (deliverer) and Lord (God in flesh), and this babe would one day provide the sacrifice that would be sufficient to pay the price for the sins of the whole world. For the shepherds, and for us as well, that announcement brought them great and lasting joy.

Did you know that the angels in heaven can also experience joy? Remember Jesus’ stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin? When the lost sheep was found, the village rejoiced along with the shepherd who found it, and when the woman found her lost coin, her friends and neighbors rejoiced right along with her. In each case, Jesus told His listeners that there is rejoicing in heaven in the presence of the angels over just one sinner who repents. That is, there is rejoicing over one person who “changes his mind” about their need for God and for His Son to forgive their sins. So yes, the angels in heaven know what it is to be joyful, and it’s over each person who repents.

Furthermore, on several different occasions, Jesus predicted His own crucifixion, but always made sure He told His disciples that He would rise again. The disciples could not understand the reason for Jesus’ prediction, let alone the fact that it would happen very soon, not years in the future. And so, Jesus said to them, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God, trust also in Me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you….” (Jn. 14:1-2). A bit later that same evening, He told His disciples, “You will grieve, but your grief will be turned to joy” (Jn. 16:20). That joy was, and still is, the result of Jesus having paid the price for our sins when He died on the cross, and then rose again to “confirm” that fact, as well as to give each of us the assurance that we will rise again when this life is over. This is no cause for discouragement, but for rejoicing, knowing that for all those who have received His forgiveness will one day enter “His House” and live with Him for eternity. Such assurance and joy should permeate each of our lives every day. And this joy can be yours through Jesus, who entered our world on Christmas morning to become our Savior, just as the shepherds were told.