Christmas: The Fight for Joy

"What does Christmas mean to you?" our good pastor asked.

I sat back and pondered on what God has ultimately taught me this year about Jesus, my relationship with Him, and my way of living. Suddenly, a flashing thought came to me: Christmas is also about the fight for joy.

When Jesus came to earth through Mary's childbirth, He knew His mission beforehand. He knew the purpose of His incarnation. He knew what He was about to go through. He was fully aware that He would be born in an impractical manger. He had foreseen that King Herod would order massive infanticide to try to haunt and bring down the Messiah. Jesus knew that the hypocrites would test Him and the unbelievers would mock Him. He had always known that one of His beloved disciples would betray Him and another one would deny Him. He had seen the future of Him being publicly ridiculed and persecuted. He had known that He would die -- hanged on the cross between two legit criminals.

Jesus knew that the moment He had been born on this earth, His sufferings began. He foresaw that it is not going to be an easy ride. It was a fight for joy!

When Jesus had gone to the garden of Gethsemane, He sweated blood pleading to His Father if it was possible for "the cup" to be taken away from Him. It was a fight for joy!

Judas kissed Him to signify his act of double dealing with Him and the pharisees. He wasn't shocked. He knew it was coming. It was a fight for joy!

Jesus took up the cross and walked His way to Calvary. He was spitted on. His face was marred by the crown of thorns. His body was scourged. He knew He'd go through those kinds of pain. It was a fight for joy!

It was a fight for joy that when Jesus was nailed on the cross -- suffering and bleeding -- He asked the Father why He had forsaken Him. It was a fight for joy!

"It is finished!" Jesus cried before He gave up the ghost. He also knew He had accomplished His mission. Jesus swallowed the "bitter pill". He accepted and obeyed the will of the Father. And I believe He did it with joy knowing that through Him, the mankind will be saved.

As I reflect on these things, I am reminded that God did not promise that our life on earth would be perfect and free from troubles. We might not suffer as Jesus did; but we will still get bruised. We will stumble. We will fail. Our hearts will be broken. Our loved ones would die. People around us might turn their backs from us. This is the reality of life; and most of these things do happen unexpectedly and for us, even untimely. We have to accept this truth. But there is also one truth that God has put into my heart: No matter how tough our situations could be, God still holds our future. He's already there! Something we should be joyful about!

I love what Rev. Charles Stanley wrote, "In the daily disappointments that threaten to consume your emotional resources and deflect your attention away from the Lord, you have the real hope and a real choice for joy and abundant living in Christ. Circumstances do not control you; Jesus does. You never have to be victim of your feelings. You can choose to look to God, listen, learn, and move ahead. As you do, the wounded, dejected places in your heart and the scars of old disappointments will melt away in God's restoring love."

We can fight for joy believing and trusting the God who not only foresees the future but also takes charge of it. In spite of circumstances, we can celebrate Christmas with joy understanding that Jesus who knew that He'd experience the pains and the doom of humanity had still chosen to pursue His mission. We can be joyful with the certainty that Jesus truly loves us. And another good news is: Jesus has risen up from the grave. We serve a living God! Jesus has overcome; and we also can as we fix our eyes on Him.

Merry Christmas everyone!