Good News of Great Joy: The Savior Has Come

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” (Luke 2:10)

We live in a world shaped by a 24-hour news cycle. Between television, radio, and countless online outlets, the headlines never stop. And most of what comes our way is discouraging, unsettling, or confusing. Instead of producing confidence, the constant stream of news often fuels fear and anxiety.

Our world is starving for good news.

Recently, I posted a picture of each of our three daughters from the day they were born. I don’t post often, but their birth was such joyful news I couldn’t help but share it. The reaction was strong—likes, comments, and hearts poured in. A birth announcement is good news that naturally produces joy. This is even more true of the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ.

On the night Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds outside Bethlehem. It must have been a breathtaking scene. Luke tells us that “the glory of the Lord shone around them,” and the shepherds responded rightly—with great fear.

But the angel said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” In other words, the angel countered their great fear with a greater joy.

What Is This Good News of Great Joy?

The angel continues: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

The good news that produces great joy is the birth of the Savior—the long-awaited Messiah who had finally come. And not only had He come, but He was near. The shepherds could go and see Him.

Why is the birth of the Savior such good news?

1. The Silence Was Broken

Since the prophet Malachi, God had not spoken for four hundred years. No new revelation. No prophetic voice. The Old Testament closes with a sober word of judgment. Any word from God would have been good news—but the angel announces something far greater: God’s saving action in the birth of His Son.

This alone makes Advent a season of great joy.

2. The Birth of Christ Is Good News Because of Who Jesus Is

He is the Christ—God’s anointed Messiah. He is the promised seed of the woman who will crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). He is the suffering servant who would bear the sins of many (Isaiah 52–53). He is the One who “will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus Himself said He came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Simeon, holding Jesus in his arms, declared that he had now seen “God’s salvation” (Luke 2:30).

He is also Lord—the eternal King who fulfills God’s covenant with David. Jesus is the One who rules forever on David’s throne. He is the Lord of all creation, who spoke the universe into existence and sustains it by His word.

No wonder the shepherds left “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:20). The angel’s announcement proved true. Joy is the right response to the arrival of the Savior.

Joy in a Broken World

The good news of the gospel produces joy in our lives. Yet for some, the holidays are painful. Perhaps this is your first Christmas without a loved one. Perhaps relationships are strained, memories are heavy, or this season feels like a reminder of loss.

The gospel does not erase our sorrow. Instead, it gives us deep, durable joy in the midst of sorrow. Joy founded on Christ is not fragile. It does not rise and fall with circumstances. It is anchored in the Savior who has come.

If you are in Christ, you have great joy because He has dealt with your greatest problem—your sin and separation from God. We have sinned against a holy Creator. But God, in love, sent His Son to redeem His enemies. Through Christ’s obedience, death, and resurrection, God has turned enemies into beloved children (Romans 4:25).

There is no better news. There is no greater joy.

Keeping This Joy Before Us

How do we keep this good news of great joy before us during Advent and all year long?

Jerry Bridges often said we need to preach the gospel to ourselves. You can do this by:

• Writing out the truths of the gospel
• Praying through a gospel passage
• Meditating on Scriptures such as Romans 3

However you practice it, the goal is to keep the glory of Christ before your eyes.

When we behold Christ in the gospel, we are continually reminded of the good news of great joy that the angels proclaimed.

For more from our Advent series please visit “Christ Our Light and Hope: Reflections for Advent.“