Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Is. 52. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- There are a whole variety of jokes that start out with the premise: “I have good news and I have bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”
- We are accustomed to this reality, that virtually everything we experience has both pros and cons, positive aspects and negative aspects.
- So I suppose that it is only natural for us to think the same when it comes to God, Christianity, Christmas – the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the life of the church. And that would be true, at least in many aspects of our life as Christians in this fallen world of sin.
- However, when it comes to the actual message of Christmas – what it is all about and what is pronounced to all people everywhere, there is not a whit of bad news in the whole proclamation. Everything about the message of Christmas is good news – even though our sinful nature perhaps finds causes for objection.
- As we look over our text for this morning, however, there really is nothing but great good news, and God Himself is the One providing us with “THE JOY OF GOD’S SALVATION.”
- As we consider our text, we need to first understand that the bringer of good news, the one with beautiful feet, is none other than our dear Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He is salvation and therefore “THE JOY OF GOD’S SALVATION.” So we rejoice that:
I. Jesus Brings Good News Of Peace, Happiness, Salvation, Redemption, And Comfort
Text: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him who brings good news, Who publishes peace, Who brings good news of happiness, Who publishes salvation. . . . He has redeemed Jerusalem. . . . and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
Statement: Again, there really isn’t even a scrap of bad news that God’s Spokesman brings! Having been redeemed by His blood, whoever believes the Son has everlasting life. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, for God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them. And from the perspective of Jerusalem, all the ends of the earth have indeed seen the salvation of our God!
Application: So the hymn “Joy To The World” is so appropriate for Christmas, and captures the message of our text, the good news, perfectly. There is no cause for sorrow, only cause for joy! Even in repentance there is joy, for “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The Lord has indeed “bared His holy arm” and dispensed with all of our sin, our guilt, our condemnation and our punishment. This is what Jesus came to do and what He accomplished for us and for our salvation!
Transition: Given that this is the case, it is little wonder that:
II. God’s Servants, His Watchmen, And All His People Rejoice In These Good Tidings Of Great Joy
Text: “The voice of Your watchmen – they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.”
Statement: We all know how important it is for us to be critical of our sinful thinking, speaking, and doing – so that we remain in humble repentance of our sin. However, our eyes dare not stare and get stuck to the bad news of our miry darkness, lest we miss “the return of the LORD to Zion” and fail to “see the salvation of our God.” This is what God wills, what He joyfully anticipates in sending His Son Jesus into the world to save the world! What would you think if you gave a most wonderful present to your spouse and they wouldn’t even look at it – eyes to the floor and proclaiming how unworthy they were? It is just as disheartening – even more so, when we push away the wondrous gift of God’s love by malingering about in sorrow and sadness!
Application: So let us hear the watchmen of Israel, the prophets and apostles, and true heralds and preachers of God’s Word – and let us join in the joyful praises of our God and Savior! Christmas – and all human life since the time of Christ’s salvation – is supposed to be about joy, peace, happiness, good news, God’s redemption, and His blessed salvation; and also the sureness and certainty of all of this, in that “Your God reigns!”
Transition: And this is important, that we see clearly the glory of God’s love and become infected and overcome with the joy of His salvation, for:
III. The Church Publishes These Blessings Of Christ To The Ends Of The Earth, To All People
Text: “The Lord has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
Statement: Christ has sent us out as well as His spokesmen and ambassadors, to bear witness to all nations of the good news of God’s salvation in Christ Jesus. If we don’t even see His salvation, don’t understand the glory of His love, aren’t all pumped up with joy and rejoicing, we’re going to make pretty sad and sorry spokesmen! The joy of Christ, and the conquering power of His love, is not only heard by what we speak but is witnessed by what we are and do – our countenance, our joy in life, our love, and our optimism born by the reality that our God of love and salvation reigns!
Application: So let us get a good jolt of joy and happiness even today, and every day – for God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation has no days off! He is present with us every day, reigning over all things, and working all things together for our great good and blessedness! We are not on a losing team, but are part of God’s dear and beloved people. Let us join them then in their singing for joy. Of course we all have problems and troubles, but these are nothing in comparison to the ultimate victory and joy that is our within Christ’s kingdom.
Conclusion: So let us remember that the message of Christmas is 100% good news, a publishing of peace, happiness, salvation redemption, and the reign of God’s love in Christ Jesus!
Let’s get infected with that joy, and stay in the elation of God’s people, the church! Let’s get the good news and joy out into the world around us – that God’s salvation indeed be clearly seen to the ends of the earth! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.