A Promised Fulfilled: The Joy of Christmas

I want to begin by saying thank you—thank you for taking time out of your busy week, your precious day, to read or watch today’s message. I know Christmas is on Wednesday, but I couldn’t wait to tell you: Merry Christmas! This season is filled with so much meaning, and I wanted to say it here, too.

Today, as I wrap up my thoughts on the miracle of Christmas, I want to focus on the joy of Christmas.

Matthew 2:10 says, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Can you feel the weight of that? They saw a star—just a star—and their hearts erupted with joy. But what was it about that star that moved them so deeply?

That star pointed to the birth of Jesus.

1. Jesus Was Born

On that night, a gift like no other was given to the world.

And as I think about it, I realize—no matter what other gifts I might receive this season, I’ve already been given the greatest gift I could ever ask for: Jesus. The true joy of the world. The Savior, the light that shines in the darkness. This thought alone fills my heart with overflowing gratitude.

And I ask myself—What would the world be like without Jesus? Have you ever asked yourself that question?

Jesus is the light of the world. He is our Healer, our Peace, our Comfort, our Hope. No wonder the shepherds rejoiced with such wild, uncontainable joy. And we, too, should rejoice. For Jesus is not just a story—He is our Savior, our Savior who came to change everything.

But that joy doesn’t end there.

2. Fulfilled Prophecy

Jesus is not just the gift to the world, He is also the fulfillment of a promise.

Over 700 years before His birth, the prophet Isaiah spoke these words:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” — Isaiah 9:6-7

Can you imagine hearing this prophecy, generation after generation? The promise that one day the Son of God would come, bringing peace that would never end? The promise that He would be God with us?

Can you feel their hearts aching with anticipation? Waiting and praying for this day to come? And when that day finally came—on that quiet night in Bethlehem—imagine the joy they must have felt. The fulfillment of a promise that had lasted for centuries. Can you feel it? Wouldn’t you, too, cry out in joy?

This night of Jesus’ arrival wasn’t just an event—it was the culmination of a promise long awaited.

And finally, there’s one more reason to rejoice:

3. God’s Love Manifested

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but can we ever truly talk about Christmas without speaking of God’s love?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16

At its very heart, the Christmas story is a story of love—divine love—that surpasses every other kind of love we know. God didn’t just send us a gift. He gave us His Son. The most precious gift He could ever give.

Think about that for a moment—God loved us so much that He gave His Son to die in our place. A sinless, perfect life, laid down for people who didn’t deserve it. He paid the ultimate price—a price so great that most wouldn’t even consider paying it for a good person. But God, in His mercy and grace, chose to give His Son for us—for you and for me.

That, my friends, is the love behind the birth of Jesus. It is not just a historical event; it is God saying, “I love you. I love you more than you can imagine.”

With these three simple points—Jesus was born, prophecy was fulfilled, and God’s love was revealed—I hope you now see why Christmas is such a joyful day. It’s the day we’ve chosen to celebrate the greatest gift we could ever receive.

Jesus—the light, the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Merry Christmas to you all. May the joy of Christ fill your hearts today and always.