beautifulsaviormedia • December 10, 2023
The King Shall Come—He Is Bringing Perfect Joy
The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent "Gaudete", which means "Rejoice!". As we reach the midway point of Advent, we remember that when the King shall come, he will bring us perfect and everlasting joy.
Joy is not the same thing as happiness. Happiness is an emotion. Joyfulness is a condition. Happiness comes from your circumstances. Joyfulness comes from your King, entering in your heart, assuring you of his abiding love and your glorious future. Therefore, happiness is fleeting. Joyfulness is enduring.
I recognize my deep spiritual thirst. I long for a good relationship with God and for everlasting life. I am tempted to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed to failure. I realize that my thirst is satisfied only by the one who said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” Jesus meets my greatest need.
I recognize my sinfulness. I am aware of my guilt, and the more I look at my situation, the more I realize what deep trouble I am in. I realize that what I really need is forgiveness, but I don’t deserve it. Fully aware of these facts, God worked salvation for me, provided me a Savior, called me to repentance, and promises me forgiveness.
Jesus was a real human being, and he looked like it when he taught his disciples. But one day atop a high mountain, Jesus gave his disciples a glimpse of his glory as the Son of God. After he came down from the mountain, Jesus went to Jerusalem to suffer and die. It is good for us to view Jesus in glory on the mountain. It prepares us for Lent, and it prepares us for life.
