Finding True Joy in Christ's Birth and Sacrifice

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delved into the profound distinction between happiness and joy, as illustrated in the biblical narrative of the shepherds in Luke 2. The angel's announcement to the shepherds was not about happiness but about "good tidings of great joy" for all people. This joy is not contingent on external circumstances but is a deep, abiding presence that flows from within, irrespective of life's challenges. Unlike happiness, which is fleeting and dependent on external factors, joy is a constant, rooted in the eternal truth of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection.

We explored the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22, drawing parallels to the Advent season. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac foreshadows God's provision of Jesus, the ultimate sacrificial lamb. This connection underscores the joy found in the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ, who is the Lamb of God, perfect and without blemish, destined to take away the sins of the world.

The shepherds, who were likely Levitical shepherds raising lambs for temple sacrifices, were the first to receive the news of Jesus' birth. This detail highlights the significance of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, born in Bethlehem, the city known for raising sacrificial lambs. The joy announced by the angel is universal, transcending cultural and personal differences, and is available to all who embrace the truth of Christ's redemptive work.

In understanding joy, we recognize that it is not found in material possessions or favorable circumstances but in the assurance of salvation and the presence of Christ in our lives. This joy is a gift that sustains us through trials and tribulations, offering a peace that surpasses understanding. As we celebrate the Advent season, we are reminded that true joy is found in the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him.

Key Takeaways:

1. Joy vs. Happiness: Joy is a profound, internal state that is not dependent on external circumstances, unlike happiness, which is fleeting and situational. Joy is rooted in the eternal truth of Christ's presence and promises. [10:01]

2. The Significance of the Shepherds: The shepherds in Luke 2 were likely Levitical shepherds, raising lambs for temple sacrifices. Their role underscores the significance of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, born to take away the sins of the world. [25:52]

3. Abraham and Isaac's Foreshadowing: The story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 foreshadows God's provision of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb. This connection highlights the joy found in the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ. [15:50]

4. Universal Joy: The joy announced by the angel is universal, transcending cultural and personal differences. It is available to all who embrace the truth of Christ's redemptive work, offering a peace that surpasses understanding. [33:04]

5. Joy in Christ's Sacrifice: True joy is found in the assurance of salvation and the presence of Christ in our lives. It sustains us through trials and tribulations, reminding us of the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him. [36:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:58] - The Angel's Announcement
- [02:20] - Shepherds' Response
- [03:09] - Joy vs. Happiness
- [06:14] - Pursuit of Happiness
- [08:30] - Biblical Joy
- [10:01] - Joy from Within
- [12:44] - The Pink Candle of Joy
- [14:08] - Abraham's Promise
- [15:50] - Foreshadowing Christ
- [19:05] - The Perfect Sacrifice
- [21:37] - Historical Context
- [23:36] - The Role of Shepherds
- [25:52] - Levitical Shepherds
- [33:04] - Universal Joy
- [36:48] - Joy in Christ's Sacrifice

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:8-20
- Genesis 22:1-14

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 2:8-20, what was the reaction of the shepherds when the angel announced the birth of Jesus? How did they respond to the message? [02:20]

2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the shepherds being the first to hear the news of Jesus' birth? [25:52]

3. In Genesis 22:1-14, what was Abraham's response to God's command to sacrifice Isaac, and how does this story foreshadow the coming of Jesus? [15:50]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between happiness and joy, and what biblical evidence supports this distinction? [10:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might the angel's announcement of "great joy" be significant for all people, according to the sermon? How does this joy differ from happiness? [03:09]

2. How does the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 relate to the Advent season and the coming of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb? [15:50]

3. What is the importance of the shepherds' role in the narrative of Jesus' birth, and how does it connect to the concept of Jesus as the Lamb of God? [25:52]

4. How does the sermon explain the universal nature of the joy announced by the angel, and what implications does this have for believers today? [33:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced joy that was not dependent on your circumstances. How can you cultivate this kind of joy in your daily life? [10:01]

2. The sermon highlights the shepherds' immediate response to the angel's message. How can you be more responsive to God's messages in your life? [02:20]

3. Consider the story of Abraham and Isaac. How can you demonstrate trust in God's promises, even when they seem challenging or unclear? [15:50]

4. The sermon discusses the difference between happiness and joy. How can you shift your focus from seeking happiness in external circumstances to finding joy in your relationship with Christ? [10:01]

5. The shepherds were chosen to receive the news of Jesus' birth. How can you share the joy of Christ with others in your community, especially during the Advent season? [25:52]

6. Reflect on the concept of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb. How does this understanding impact your view of salvation and your relationship with God? [19:05]

7. The sermon emphasizes the universal nature of the joy announced by the angel. How can you embrace and share this joy with people from different backgrounds and cultures? [33:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Joy as an Internal State
Joy is a profound, internal state that is not dependent on external circumstances, unlike happiness, which is fleeting and situational. Joy is rooted in the eternal truth of Christ's presence and promises. This joy is a deep, abiding presence that flows from within, irrespective of life's challenges. It is not contingent on external circumstances but is a constant, rooted in the eternal truth of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection. Unlike happiness, which is fleeting and dependent on external factors, joy remains steadfast. This joy is a gift that sustains us through trials and tribulations, offering a peace that surpasses understanding. As we celebrate the Advent season, we are reminded that true joy is found in the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him. [10:01]

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking happiness from external circumstances? How can you shift your focus to find joy in the eternal truth of Christ's presence?


Day 2: The Shepherds' Role in the Nativity
The shepherds in Luke 2 were likely Levitical shepherds, raising lambs for temple sacrifices. Their role underscores the significance of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, born to take away the sins of the world. The shepherds, who were the first to receive the news of Jesus' birth, highlight the profound connection between Jesus and the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. This detail emphasizes the significance of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, born in Bethlehem, the city known for raising sacrificial lambs. The joy announced by the angel is universal, transcending cultural and personal differences, and is available to all who embrace the truth of Christ's redemptive work. [25:52]

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear." (Luke 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the role of the shepherds in the nativity story deepen your appreciation for Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb? How can this understanding influence your worship during this Advent season?


Day 3: Abraham and Isaac's Foreshadowing
The story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 foreshadows God's provision of Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb. This connection highlights the joy found in the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac foreshadows God's provision of Jesus, the ultimate sacrificial lamb. This connection underscores the joy found in the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ, who is the Lamb of God, perfect and without blemish, destined to take away the sins of the world. The joy announced by the angel is universal, transcending cultural and personal differences, and is available to all who embrace the truth of Christ's redemptive work. [15:50]

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son." (Genesis 22:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you had to trust in God's provision. How does the story of Abraham and Isaac encourage you to trust in God's promises today?


Day 4: Universal Joy in Christ
The joy announced by the angel is universal, transcending cultural and personal differences. It is available to all who embrace the truth of Christ's redemptive work, offering a peace that surpasses understanding. This joy is not found in material possessions or favorable circumstances but in the assurance of salvation and the presence of Christ in our lives. It sustains us through trials and tribulations, reminding us of the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him. As we celebrate the Advent season, we are reminded that true joy is found in the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him. [33:04]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you share the universal joy of Christ with someone from a different cultural or personal background this week? What steps can you take to demonstrate the inclusivity of Christ's love?


Day 5: Joy in Christ's Sacrifice
True joy is found in the assurance of salvation and the presence of Christ in our lives. It sustains us through trials and tribulations, reminding us of the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him. This joy is a gift that sustains us through trials and tribulations, offering a peace that surpasses understanding. As we celebrate the Advent season, we are reminded that true joy is found in the promise of Christ's return and the wholeness of our relationship with Him. The joy announced by the angel is universal, transcending cultural and personal differences, and is available to all who embrace the truth of Christ's redemptive work. [36:48]

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy in your life by focusing on the assurance of salvation and the presence of Christ? How can this joy sustain you through current challenges?

Quotes


Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. And this great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [00:01:17] (21 seconds)


The Bible is not driven by our emotions, our well-being, our success, or our good fortune. See, happiness is caused by external circumstances. The things that happen in your life can make you happy, but joy doesn't come from the outside. [00:09:39] (21 seconds)


But joy flows right on through the trouble. Joy flows on through the dark. Joy flows in the night as well as in the day. Joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It flows right along, for it is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart, a secret spring which the world cannot see and don't know anything about. [00:10:37] (27 seconds)


You can have the same joy that I can have. And I can have the same joy that you can have. People who are down the street that are worshiping the Lord this morning can have the same joy in their life that you have and that I have. Because this joy is available to all people. [00:12:26] (18 seconds)


These Levitical shepherds were part of the sheep of the priesthood and they were raising lambs without spot, without blemish at Bethlehem in the fields so that they could go to the temple and be sacrificed. And Jesus is born. [00:27:13] (22 seconds)


So you begin to ask the question, what does Genesis 22 and the Lord will provide for himself a lamb, the Lord will provide himself a lamb that is prophetically declared into the promised son of Abraham and looking at the genealogy in Matthew as Jesus is declared the son of Abraham and then you get yourself to this place and you begin to say Jesus is born in Bethlehem and the Bible tells us that he was the lamb that was claimed before the foundation of the world. He is the perfect sacrifice without spot, without blemish. [00:27:55] (46 seconds)


Jesus is born as the perfect spotless lamb that is going to be the ultimate, complete son. And so why is it that I come to you with good tidings of great joy for all people? Because the gospel is for all people. [00:31:23] (21 seconds)


Christ came and he lived the perfect, spotless, sinless life. And you can say it like this in types and in antitypes. He went from the manger to the cross to the tomb to the resurrection to the right hand of the Father. And he's coming again. He is the perfect sacrifice. [00:31:44] (21 seconds)


Joy is not found in you getting what you want or even what you think you want. Joy is found in the fact that the perfect spotless Lamb came and was willing to be sacrificed for you. [00:36:48] (17 seconds)


And as you go through different things in your life that's the place where you find joy and that's the place where you hang on to. It's not in the subjective things that are happening in your life. It's not whether or not you have the greatest job or you have the job that you want, it's not in whether or not you have the greatest house or even the house that you want. It's not found in whether or not you're driving the car that you want to be driving or you're driving something that you're wondering if the wheels are going to fall off of. It's not found in any of those things. It's only found in Christ. It's only found in the perfect spotless lamb who was born so that he could die. [00:37:06] (34 seconds)


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Transcript
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