Good News of Great Joy // Rev. craig Gyergyo

And most likely, they're not expecting anything to happen. They certainly weren't expecting what happened to happen, right? And so it's just as fitting that this, you know, when I say this, in the fields with shepherds watching sheep, that this is where God chooses to make the biggest announcement. Because here's the reality, and I hope this speaks to your heart. God has always, always, always, and he still does today, drawn near to those who are lonely and broken and feel overlooked. This is the heart of the Father. And so it makes perfect sense that he would do this. [00:07:17] (39 seconds)  #GodForTheOverlooked

This is something that is announced to them. It's brought to them. It comes to them. And the reason, it had to be surprising to the shepherds. Because it says this. The reason is, the reason they have joy, the reason they don't have to be afraid, is because what? A Savior was born in the town of David, Bethlehem. [00:13:57] (21 seconds)  #SaviorBornInBethlehem

``And not a teacher, not a reformer, not a great moral figure. A Savior. A deliverer. The Messiah. And a single word. Savior. Tells us why. Tells us why joy is possible. And that's before anything feels safer. Because joy does not come from changed circumstances. Joy comes from actually a change in your status. We'll talk more about the status change. But this is big. And what you're seeing right now, this is a powerful passage, because you're seeing something decisive in all of human history. [00:14:18] (40 seconds)  #JoyFromStatusChange

Okay, so this is Bethlehem. And in Bethlehem, what happens is, the eternal God takes on human flesh. That's not poetry. That's not metaphorical. That is the decisive act. Again, the decisive act of God in all of human history. This is at the heart of Christmas. And listen, because that miracle is true, and I'm asserting to you, based on the scriptures, it is true, because it's true, because God has entered into our world through Christ, that means that the meaning of Bethlehem does not remain locked in the past. [00:15:28] (51 seconds)  #IncarnationChangesHistory

The ultimate danger is what? It's separation from God. That's the ultimate danger. To live in sin, to live under sin, to one day stand before holiness and to face death without reconciliation, to be alone at the end of it all. That's the greatest danger. And that danger has been addressed. How? By the word made flesh. By the word made flesh. So here's what I want you to do. I'm telling you, that's true. And that being true, then take a moment and just let it light up your life right now. [00:22:26] (45 seconds)  #ReconciledThroughChrist

In the words of the angels, you see that the shadow of the cross falls on the manger. It's here from the beginning. You know, the child in the manger has already accepted, Jesus has accepted a trajectory that leads through suffering and rejection and ultimately death. And because the baby will grow to be a man, the Savior, he will bear sin, defeat death, reconcile humanity to God. Because of that, the ultimate danger is disarmed. It's taken away. And this is why. This is why joy can be announced before anything looks safer. [00:24:20] (50 seconds)  #CrossInTheManger

Joy is not the denial of danger. It's not the, you know, total elimination of your fears. No. Joy is what the heart experiences when the greatest danger has been dealt with. And if that's true, then no lesser danger can ever have ultimate authority again. Are you following this? Do you hear this? You can have this kind of joy. You can have this kind of peace. [00:25:11] (26 seconds)  #JoyBeyondFear

And what did the shepherds do? You saw at the very end there in verse 20. They returned glorifying and praising God. People in the margins. People who had reason to be afraid. Something changed. Why? Because the deepest need, the greatest danger in their life had been addressed. And joy is not the absence of ruins. That comes in our lives. Joy is what dares to sing within the ruins. And ultimately, here's what the shepherds show us. Joy is possible. It's possible for you today. It's possible for all of us. [00:31:28] (40 seconds)  #JoyInTheMargins