This Christmas you’re bound to hear the Christmas carol, Joy to the World. So popular, so beautiful and one of my favourites. 

There’s no need to make a case for joy.

Everyone loves joy.

Joy is something that people aspire to have: We pursue it and we seek after it.

But one mistake that we often make is that we think that joy and happiness are the same thing, or even worse and more deceptively, that joy is just a whole lot of happiness piled on top of itself.

Joy is qualitatively different to what happiness actually is.

From happiness to joy

Interestingly, soon after the very first Christmas, a man named Simeon met Jesus when Jesus was just a newborn infant at eight days old.

Simeon had been waiting for so many things that were the foundation of his hope that were going to become the realisation of his joy. Simeon was waiting for consolation, encouragement, comfort, salvation and rescue (Luke 2:25-32).

We too, may resonate with all of these things that Simeon sought out and desired after.

Upon his one simple encounter with Jesus, Simeon’s joy was realised. In fact, Simeon’s response and reaction can only be described as pure, authentic, unmitigated joy.

So what’s the big difference between what Simeon experienced compared to the happiness that we seek today in our temporary worlds?

Happiness is based on temporary things and on our sensory experience of our world.

There’s nothing wrong with happiness. In fact, I’m sure that you will have many happy things to be  thankful for this Christmas: Good presents, good food, good times with friends and family.

But the deepest needs of the human heart require something greater, deeper, and more enduring than happiness.

They require joy and that’s exactly what Simeon experienced because he understood something that we have the opportunity to understand and accept today: That on that very first Christmas, joy came down.

It wasn’t just about happiness when God came into the world. He brought joy for you and me, joy for each of us.

It’s the same joy that we can all embrace and have access to. It’s my hope that you will experience that joy through Jesus Christ this Christmas season.

This is part of RZIM Asia-Pacific’s Advent film series by Max Jeganathan, where he explores the Advent themes of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace and how we can experience these in their fullest this Christmas. This was posted online by RZIM Asia-Pacific here. Republished with permission. 

For more resources on this topic and others from the RZIM Asia-Pacific speaking team, visit the RZIM Asia-Pacific website www.rzim.asia.

MORE FROM THIS ADVENT SERIES:

Advent Week 1: Hoping in a hope-worthy God

Advent Week 1: Hoping in a hope-worthy God

Advent Week 1: Hoping in a hope-worthy God