One of my favorite Christmas carols is Joy to the World. It is an exciting hymn and one that, right from the beginning, celebrates the coming of Jesus and calls followers of Jesus to active worship. And while I appreciate and enjoy the contemplative nature of many Christmas hymns that are slower and more meditative in nature, Joy to the World is a fast and upbeat song!
The hymn was written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), and was published in 1719. And while Joy to the World has been sung during the Advent season by believers for over 300 years, it may be surprising to know that Joy to the World wasn’t intended to be about Christmas or the birth of Jesus. Instead, it was written about the return of Christ – his second coming. It was originally meant to be sung year-round to remind and encourage believers about the future coming of our King. So, why on earth do we still sing it only during the Christmas season?
The truth is, the second coming of Christ would not be possible without the first coming of Christ. And while the future coming is sure to look different than the first (see Revelation 19:11), these acts are tied together in the plan of redemption set in place by our Creator at the beginning of time. The grace that was demonstrated for us in the first coming of Christ makes possible the day when Jesus will appear in all his glory to complete the work given to him in restoring all creation back to God.
A great line from this hymn comes in the second verse when we are called to “repeat the sounding joy.” It’s a wonderful reminder that, despite the circumstances of our current reality and despite the many ways our culture may cause us to forget or lose hope in this life, when we “repeat the sounding joy” we are proclaiming that our King is sovereign overall, now and for all eternity. And just as our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ sang this line hundreds of years ago, here we are in 2020 repeating that same joy.
As we journey into this Advent season together, may we be a people whose hearts are filled with joy as we consider the grace we’ve received at the birth of Jesus. And as we look back, may it encourage us as we look forward to the grace that is promised to us when Christ returns.