Philippians 4:4–7 (ESV)

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This time of year, some people put on a joyful pretense for everyone to see.  Decorate the house with lights, hang ornaments on a Christmas tree, put a plastic Santa and reindeer on the lawn, and play pop Christmas songs in the background.  Maybe go to a party, watch Christmas movies, exchange presents.  Everyone can do it.  Most everyone does.  But for many people, there is no real joy in it.  For many folks it is hard to rejoice this time of year.  Perhaps it is because of the loss of a loved one.  Maybe it is a child who is no longer willing or even welcome to come home.  Then there is the widespread loneliness, barrenness, and hopelessness in our broken world.  So, we fake it.  It is easier to blend into the crowd, so no one points out our inner Scrooge.  

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But the truth is, we really do want to rejoice!  We want joy and gladness and the peace that surpasses all understanding.  So, how and where can we find a reason to rejoice?  Well, John the Baptizer wondered that too.  “Are You the One?  Or shall we look for another?” he asked (Luke 7:19).  It does not matter if John was asking for himself or for the sake of those whom he sent to Jesus.  John’s mission was to lead people to Jesus, since it is Jesus who brings God’s promise to us.  This matters because Jesus’ answer gives comfort to everyone who hears His proclamation: “And [Jeus] answered [John’s disciples], ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me” (cf. Luke 7:18-23).

John’s questions of who Jesus was and when God’s promises would be fulfilled were answered before the eyes of his disciples.  Jesus is the Coming One, there is no other.  Where Jesus is, God’s promises are fulfilled.  Jesus came to comfort His people in their fear, sorrow, shame, and sickness.  Jesus came to take away the sin of the world and undo all that robs joy from us. 

So, it goes for those who mourn, suffer, and imitate joy because you cannot find any within.  Saint Paul declares, “Rejoice!” The Lord is in your midst!  He is here among us, here in the church, in His Word spoken and read, here in the bread and wine of His Holy Supper, here in and among the baptized in His name.  Rejoice! Wherever Christ and His work is heard, where the promises of healing and restoration are spoken, there you will find “the peace of God, which surpasses all understand” (7a). Jesus comes to take away the judgment against you, to cast out your fear, and strengthen your weak hands and timid hearts.  Jesus comes with promises fulfilled, the forgiveness of sins, giving you “ the peace of God . . . which will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (7b).  

If you want to find joy, especially this time of year, then do not count on the tinsel, wrapped gifts, mulled wine, or eggnog.  Look to where Christ is.  Rejoice in the Lord always!  Not with a feigned or momentary joy, but with eternal joy in Christ, who is with you today and “always to the end of the age” (cf. Matthew 28:20b).

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