Luke 1:14
I find most interesting the message of Heaven to John, as the angel prophesied and explained the nativity of John that was soon to come to pass. He exclaimed “And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice at his birth” (Luke 1:14). This old priest and his wife after many years of pain, frustration and disappointment were to have joy and gladness. This really captivated my attention. It made me query how many times we miss the opportunity to have joy and gladness. Pain and sorrow will come because man that is born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble (Job 14:1). However, beyond that, we have been appointed to have joy and gladness. It is God’s divine will. Can you imagine an existence without joy and gladness? The birth of John signified the fact that God in His infinite mercy had not forgotten. He had not forgotten us. The birth of the forerunner of the Messiah was the rebirth of joy and gladness.
Not only was the priest to have joy and gladness, but the people. The Word declares, “. . . and many shall rejoice at his birth” (Luke 1:14). Can anyone really refute the darkness of the times that characterized the world into which John and the messiah were born. Can anyone forget the madness of Herod, senselessly slaying, “. . . all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men” (Matthew 2:16). The Bible makes it crystal clear “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Proverbs 29:2). These were incredibly sad times, nationally, politically, socially, emotionally, economically, and individually. Yet into these most depressing times came the sublime message of hope – “And thou shalt have joy and gladness and many shall rejoice at his birth (Luke 1:14). It must be reaffirmed that the divine intent is never to sink or depress us.
It was especially for these times the message comes reminding us to have joy and gladness, reaffirming “. . . for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). May we never forget, the coming of Jesus into our sin-cursed darkened world, is indeed good tidings of great joy – the re-introduction of joy and music – tidings of great joy! To all People! Like the heavenly host found in Luke 2, we need a renewed outburst of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).
Like Zacharias, Elisabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna and the angels we choose to sing. With inexpressible joy we join with Mary and proclaim, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46,47). It’s time to celebrate the faithfulness of the Messiah to us. What a joy in knowing that he hath kept His Word! We rebuke and bind every thought of demonic suicidal mania. We receive the promise of supernatural deliverance. We receive the angelic message, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). We claim this pronouncement as true and real – Joy and Gladness! We rejoice at the fulfilment of the Promise over our lives and the world.
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
