Introduction: Christian joy is like a fountain of water, springing up in your heart. The analogy is a good one. Have you ever seen a truly large, marvelous fountain? There is a very large one in a park in downtown Chicago. The water shoots 50 feet into the air from 100 different pipes, and it is a marvelous sight. But note: the water would not be there bubbling and jumping to the sky apart from some unseen pipes and pumps. It is that which is unseen which makes the fountain work. The same principle holds true for Christian joy. The joy in our faces, in our voices, in our hearts is very evident. But it is rooted in something unseen: our faith in Jesus Christ. Our belief in His God-given birth in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

The Joy of Christmas permeates the Christmas story in the Bible.

I. The coming birth of Jesus brought joy to Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the baptist (Luke 1:13-14).

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
Luke 1:14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,

John brought joy to his parents because they never expected to have a child in their old age. But he also brought joy to them, and to many in Israel, because he was the prophet that paved the way for the Messiah. What a joyful honor, that THEIR SON, would be the prophet of the Messiah!

II. John the Baptist himself rejoiced over Christ, before either of them were born (Luke 1:39-44).

Luke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
Luke 1:40 where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
Luke 1:43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luke 1:44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

After John preached, and then baptized Jesus, and Jesus began his ministry, John said "He must increase, and I must decrease." He rejoiced that the Messiah had come.

III. Mary rejoiced over the birth of Jesus. Mary had written a song we call the Magnificat. When Luke wrote his gospel, he researched, and talked with Mary, and recorded her song in the gospel of Luke. (Luke 1:46-47).

Luke 1:46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
Luke 1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Who was Mary's Savior? Her son Jesus. Mary is not the Queen of Heaven. She is not our co-redeemer along with Jesus. She was not born without sin, nor was she taken bodily to Heaven. She was a sinner just like you and me, and she rejoiced that God had sent her a Savior.

IV. Simeon rejoiced over the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:25-32).

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel (the Messiah), and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Luke 2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Luke 2:27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
Luke 2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
Luke 2:29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
Luke 2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
Luke 2:31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
Luke 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

V. The birth of Christ brought joy to the Magi (Matthew 2:9-11).

Mat 2:9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Mat 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

VI. The birth of Christ brought joy to the angels and the shepherds (Luke 2:8-10).

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

The angels rejoice to see their Lord at work. They see Him clearly, and aways marvel at His wisdom, holiness, love and grace. The shepherds went to see Jesus in the manger, and they rejoiced over the birth of their Messiah.

Conclusion: Christian joy is like a fountain in our hearts. It is not just on the surface, but it comes bubbling up for deep inside, where we have our faith in the incarnation, in the birth of our Savior. We have something great to be joyful about. Amen.