Glad Tidings of Great Joy

Luke 2:10 says that the angels told the frightened shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people". This was news “of great joy.” The word great here is the word megas in the original language. It has the idea of mega joy or super-sized cheerfulness. This good news is exceedingly exciting because God is bringing about the solution to the sin problem. They went from total terror to mega joy.

In Galatians 4:15, Paul asked a very penetrating question: “What has happened to all your joy…” That question needs to be asked many churches today. Do we as a people of God demonstrate super-sized joy? What has happened to all our joy? Perhaps the great evangelist from the last century, Billy Sunday, helps us answer that question. He once said, “The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable. If there is not joy in religion, you’ve got a leak in your religion.” A pastor once said to Groucho Marx: “Mr. Marx, I want to thank you for bringing so much joy into the world.” To which Groucho replied, “I want to thank you for taking so much out.”

We tend to equate “happiness” with joy but they are two totally different ideas because they each spring from a different source. Happiness comes from external sources and events. Joy originates directly from the Holy Spirit. Happiness is dependent upon what is happening to me. If people treat me nicely, if things are going well in my life, then I’m happy. If my circumstances aren’t favorable, then I’m unhappy.

Joy, on the other hand, is a divine dimension of living that is not influenced by circumstances. The Hebrew word means, “To leap or spin around with pleasure.” In the New Testament the word refers to “gladness, bliss, and celebration.” 


The message of Christmas is one of gladness, a season of bliss, and a source of celebration. Could it be possible to have more leaping and spinning with pleasure in our services?