Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

The third Sunday of Advent emphasizes joy. In fact, this Sunday is often referred to as Gaudete Sunday after the Latin word for rejoice. Even the candle on the advent wreath is a different color-- often a pink or rose color to represent the joyous aspect in this solemn season of preparation.

In the Old Testament, the prophets often speak of the experience of joy and the act of rejoicing when Yahweh will bring restoration and will come once again into their midst. Zephaniah 3 says "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel, Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst... Fear not, O Zion; the LORD your God is in your midst." Likewise, Isaiah 12 declares "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" after this important statement:

"Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation."

Thus, joy is the not just an emotion, but a natural reaction to work that the Creator does among His people, particularly the work of drawing the lost back into relationship with Him. It is that reason that the New Testament frequently exhorts us to rejoice about Jesus and His work on the cross. Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice." Because Christ Jesus has come into our midst and His work on the cross is the basis of our salvation, our most natural response should be one of pure and unadulterated joy!

Therefore, we can have joy even in the midst of the most difficult and darkest of times. Joy is not something that is fleeting but a recognition of the character of our God. A God who allowed His own son to provide the atoning sacrifice required to bring us back into right relationship with Him. A God who continuously walks beside us and draws us closer to Him. A God who refines us and a God who cherishes us. And our beloved Messiah who will return one day to establish His kingdom in complete fulfillment of all that Scripture has promised us.

**written as a devotional for church newsletter and re-posted here.