Joyful and Triumphant, Even Now

Joyful and Triumphant.  That’s the title of a sermon series I am preaching from Matthew’s Gospel this Christmas. That language is drawn from a hymn that I think most of us are familiar with.  Perhaps you know the lyrics of it by heart. 

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come, ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!

I realize that some may read this series title and think, “Joyful and Triumphant?  Really?!  Now?  In December of 2020?”

“Jeff, maybe you did not know that is the Christmas the Grinch was finally able to steal! Here we are in another stay at home order in the state of California.  This three-week ‘decree’ began Sunday, December 6.  Those three weeks takes us to December 27. That’s two days after Christmas!”

“We are supposed to be staying at home.  No gatherings.  No restaurants. No Christmas parties. No nothing. If we do venture out, we are to be masked up at all times. And we are supposed to be joyful and triumphant?  Now?  When small business owners are hearing the death knell of their livelihood?  When it seems like discouragement and depression are spreading as rapidly as the coronavirus? When hospital workers are at wits end? When families are grieving the loss of loved ones?”

“Joyful and triumphant in the midst of this?”

Yes. The church of the risen Lord can have a sincere sense of joy. The citizens of the Kingdom of God can have true triumph in their hearts. Even now. Even amidst this hardship. Here is some encouragement along these lines.

The historical Christmas story took place at a very dismal time in the history of Israel.  They were not just dealing with government overreach, they were dealing with Roman overlords.  They were a conquered people under the boot of the Roman Empire. Into that context, the Kingdom of God was brought into the world through the womb of a virgin daughter of Israel.  Christ the Savior was born. He brought a kingdom that will never, ever fade.

But business are failing. But people are dying. But loved ones are separated. But hearts are heavy. Among the ranks of believers. 

The biblical reality is that so often, joy is mingled with sorrow. Triumph so often comes through suffering.  The very cross of Jesus itself teach us that the place of victory is also a place of pain. Sinners are cleansed and redeemed at the cross, the place of the Messiah’s desolation. He endured the crucifixion for the joy that was set before Him in the redemption of His chosen bride. Awesome works of God were happening when the noonday sun was darkened in Israel on that very Good Friday. Be assured, child of God, that God is working for your good and your glorious transformation at this very time. Even when times are hard and frustrating.

Consider Romans 8. It is a chapter sometimes called “The Everest of the the New Testament.” But listening carefully, you hear the sound of sorrow mixed in. It opens up by telling us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It reminds us that the power of the Holy Spirit has been sealed into our lives. Then, it provides a profound theology of groaning. Under the weight of the curse, the creation groans. Under that hardship of this fallen world in these mortal bodies, we too groan. Goodness, even the Holy Spirit groans as He intercedes for us! Still, after that, it challenges us to consider that if GOD is for us, then who can be against us? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect. It concludes with the emphatic reminder that nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of Christ. We will spend eternity covered in His grace and love.

If the theology of groaning can be contained in one of the most glorious chapters in the Bible, then joy, sorrow, sighing and triumph can can be mingled in a believing heart in the midst of a Christmastime lockdown.

Even in the dark times of life, He calls His people to shine with the joy of His reign. This is not something that we conjure up ourselves.  This is something that is supernaturally produced in the hearts of God’s people as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

But how is that joy produced? It comes as we are brought into the presence of the Messiah. We must heed the call. “Come and behold Him born the King of angels.” Come and behold HIM. In his gospel, Matthew loves to use the word, “behold.” Behold the works of Jesus. Look upon the ways of Jesus. Contemplate the nature of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us to save us. His name, “Jesus” means, “Yahweh saves.”

As our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we can stand in awe of him. He knows us and He has seen us at our very worst. And the King of angels has enfolded us into His love and care. He has drawn us into His very heart. He has prepared a place for us on His throne, where we are seated with Him in the heavenly places. These are the greater realities of the Christian existence, not the passing sorrows and struggles and suffering of this world.

Even when we feel like the caption of this year’s Christmas season ought to be Deflated and Frustrated, a much more appropriate title is Joyful and Triumphant.