Transcendent Joy
I read an article this week by Pastor Al Gooderham in Doncaster, England. In it he said “Every Christmas party, every overindulgence, every gift, every exorbitant preparation is a sign of a desperate search for joy. It is a sign of longing for significance and a desire to bring joy to others or to find joy for themselves where they can because life is in short supply of it.”
Christmas has always been a season of joy whether it’s captured in the lights, decorations, gatherings, gifts, food, drinks, parties, or songs. We often hear the words, “Merry Christmas,” or “Happy Holidays,” along with all the songs “'tis the season to be jolly,” “have yourself a merry little Christmas,” or “joy to the world,” among many others.
But what kind of joy are people expressing and experiencing? There are really only two possibilities:
Christmas can be about circumstantial joy which comes and goes depending upon the experience of the moment (food joy, song joy, decoration joy, gift joy, etc.).
Then there is a transcendent joy that is unflappable in the face of fluctuating circumstances. It is a settled satisfaction that God provides about the meaning and purpose of life that can smile even in the face of momentary or lingering adversity.
Transcendent joy doesn’t deny sorrow, heartbreak, or loss, but it is able to see beyond the pains that can rock our world and challenge our focus to stay fixed upon Christ. It is what Paul shared paradoxically “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).
When Jesus arrived, the air of transcendent joy was all over the story.
Amazingly, it started inside Elizabeth’s womb when John the Baptist “leaped for joy” at the sound of Mary’s announcement that she would be the mother of the Messiah (Luke 1:39–43)
Mary proclaimed her joy: ”My soul exalts the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).
The Shepherds rejoiced when they returned home "glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them" (Luke 2:20).
The Wise Men had joy: "and when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" (Matt. 2:10).
The key to this transcendent joy is what the angel of the Lord proclaimed to the Shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which while be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). What an incredible proclamation that describes this transcendent joy.
It is a gifted joy: The angel declared “I bring you good news of a great joy.” It’s not humanly discovered or manufactured, but one God gave and keeps on giving.
It is a generous joy: It is “for all the people.” It’s for anyone who wants to experience it whether healthy or sick, happy or sad, conservative or liberal, rich or poor, strong or weak, successful or struggling.
It is a grounded joy (v. 11). Your joy is only as good as its object or foundation, and the angel said, “there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Knowing God sent us a Savior who forgives our sins, empowers our life, guarantees our future, and secures all these blessings allows us all to experience joy no matter what our circumstance.
Pastor Jeff