I'm sure Mary and Joseph must have experienced this sense of anticipation even as they were traveling to Bethlehem. All new parents experience a sense of anticipation as they await the birth of their child. Surely Mary and Joseph were no exception. The events surrounding this child's birth were a long way from what would be considered normal or usual, even in that day; even so, as new parents Mary and Joseph were certainly looking forward to, anticipating, the birth.
There's a sense of anticipation around this household. In just a few days, this normally very quiet house will be filled with giggles and laughter and all the sounds of family. How I'm looking forward to this time with our sons and their families! Looking forward to hugs and giggles and tickles. To good conversations. To sharing the experience that is Christmas. What joy it will be to be together!
Even as Mary and Joseph anticipated the birth of Jesus, and even as I am anticipating having family together this year as we celebrate that birth, there is another sense of anticipation that marks the Christmas season.
One definition of the word anticipation is expectation or hope. In that sense, we anticipate a Christmas yet future. A time when Christ will once again come to earth. No longer a little baby, but coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
That's the theme of one of the most popular of all Christmas carols, Joy to the World. That carol is a celebration of Christ's first coming, but also an anticipation of His second coming, that time when He rules the world with truth and grace.
What joy that will be!
Joy to the world! The Lord has come! And joy to the world! The Lord is coming!
"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! For He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the people with equity." (Psalm 98: 4, 8b-9 ESV)
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13 KJV)
Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders and wonders of His love.
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders and wonders of His love.
(Joy to the World: words-Isaac Watts;
music-George F. Handel, arr. Lowell Mason)
No comments:
Post a Comment