One of the all-time favorite Christmas hymns is not about Christmas–the arrival of Christ as a baby in Bethlehem. “Joy to the World” speaks of a joy that is not yet–the return of Christ in power and glory.
It speaks of a universal transformation which “no more lets sin and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground.” Today sin and sorrow are not in retreat. As Romans says, the whole earth groans under a curse of decay and death. “The creation waits with eager longing (to be) set free from its bondage to corruption,” and we along with it “wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies.” (especially the old and ill) It is an unseen hope, “for who hopes for what he sees? We wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:18-25) Who waits for something that is already here? “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Most People Don’t Accept it
Jesus indeed does now reign with “all authority in heaven and earth” (Matthew 28:18) and “is seated at the right hand of God the Father” (Acts 2:33 & 5:31, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, 8:1, 10:12), but most people neither know it nor accept it, and only the eyes of faith see it. He is not yet one who “makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.” But when He returns, “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” willingly or reluctantly, joyfully or mournfully–they will have no choice, for it will be undeniable. (Philippians 2:11) Today He is gathering and preparing His people–He who is the Creator of everything, the Judge of everyone, and the Savior of those who believe in Him, “to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
Making All Things New
Jesus’ past coming is a necessary prelude, down payment and assurance of His future coming, when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelations 21:4-5)
“Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus” (Revelation22:20), and we will sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”
Lyrics
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
