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Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,

even as we hope in you.

—Psalm 33:22

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

—Mark 12:29-31

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

—John 14:23

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

—James 2:8-9

Eugene Peterson put John's description of the incarnation in powerful, perhaps unexpected, language: “The Word became flesh and blood / and moved in to the neighborhood.” The immediacy of that image connects it to a theme that we find from one end of Scripture to the other.

"Love your neighbor..." is clearly stated in the Law of Moses.

Some chose to ignore it, regarding "near" as simply meaning "convenient for exploitation". Events in the book of Judges—especially the scene at Gibeah—show a nation willing to learn from the worst behavior of the surrounding peoples. The later prophets consistently pointed to injustice and abuse of the poor as evidence of a nation that had lost its way.

Some chose to redefine it carefully, regarding "neighbor" as "someone like me". Jesus reaffirmed loving God and loving neighbor as the heart of the Law. The scholars of His day accepted those statements. But Luke records a conversation in which one such person, “desiring to justify himself”, requested a definition of "neighbor". Jesus responded with a parable that made a hated outsider the one who fulfilled the Law.

The Lord chose to live it. He came to live among us, to live out the most extreme, the most perfect version of love, offering Himself to be with us. To be our Neighbor so that we could be His.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope

—Psalm 130:5

“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”

—Hosea 12:6

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

—John 3:16-17

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

—1 Corinthians 18-20

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

—Jude 1:20-21

Loving the parts of the body that are not identical to ourselves is the visible indication of loving God. The oneness of the body is the tangible demonstration to the world of the love of God.

The English phrase, "the love of God", can mean "the love extended from God" as well as "the love expressed toward God". Those meanings are not contradictory; instead, they are parts of one whole. Jesus told His disciples that people will know who His disciples are by their love. It shouldn't be hard to understand what it means to refuse to love.

Micah called for the Lord's people to “do justice...love kindness...walk humbly”. Zechariah had called for truth and judgements “that are true and make for peace”, then delivered the Lord's commands against deceptive oaths and evil intent toward others.

John records three times the command of Jesus for His disciples to love one another. Paul and Peter repeated it in their letters. John reiterated it six times in two of his short letters. And all of them make clear that this is not simply some pale sentiment. It is a vital, active, challenging love that does whatever is needed.

Like the circulatory system that carries the blood of life—to all parts of the body.

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

—Psalm 25:6

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?

—Isaiah 7:10-13

And the angel said to [the shepherds], “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

—Luke 2:10-12

I'm not a mind-reader, and it is not my place to judge.

There could be different reasons for the response of Ahaz when Isaiah delivered the Lord's offer of a sign of rescue. Taken at face value, it sounds sincere. After all, Moses had commanded the Israelites not to put God to the test. But the Lord sees (and hears) more than humans. He not only hears the words, He also hears what is in the heart that speaks them. And the next statement makes it clear that Ahaz's refusal is trying the Lord's patience.

The sign was given, regardless of whether Ahaz chose to receive it.

Luke records another audience given a sign—shepherds out in the fields at night. And an angel came to them announcing good news. And the next statement seems very strange, given what comes next. Let's think about that for just a minute. The angel appeared to them. They were surrounded by the shining glory of the Lord. The first angel spoke and then a “multitude” of other angels appeared, praising God before going into heaven.

Those sights and sounds would have surely gotten our full attention! Those surely were events totally outside the prior experience of the shepherds. But none of that was the sign. The sign was a baby in a manger.

Unlike Ahaz, they went searching for the promised sign.

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

for his wondrous works to the children of man!

And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,

and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

—Psalm 107:21-22

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people

and will have compassion on his afflicted.

—Isaiah 49:13

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

—Luke 15:7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

—Hebrews 12:1-2

The reference at the beginning of Hebrews 12 to a great cloud of witnesses might remind us of the multitude of angels that appeared to the shepherds in the announcement of the birth of Jesus. In both cases, the great number didn't come into existence just for that moment. They were simply unseen by human eyes.

Both passages speak of the beginning of something. A new life begins for those who believe in the Son, whose ministry on earth began in Bethlehem.

Many lessons on Hebrews 12 encourage faithfulness and endurance in following Jesus, and rightly so. But some commentators have observed something curious about the phrase: “the joy that was set before Him”. The Son had already been with the Father. He “emptied Himself” to inhabit flesh and blood for a time. So what joy was before Him?

One answer comes from the words of Jesus Himself. He came to bring joy to others.

The good news was offered to all people. And the great joy was both joy to those who would receive Him and joy to the very throne room of heaven.

Reuniting heaven and earth.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

And lift them up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

he is the King of glory!

—Psalm 24:3-4, 9-10

Let the rivers clap their hands;

let the hills sing for joy together

before the Lord, for he comes

to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with equity.

—Psalm 98:8-9

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

—Galatians 4:4-6

...for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true...

—Ephesians 5:9

We understand the contrast between good fruit and bad fruit. We understand the disappointment of cutting into a piece of fruit that appears good on the outside, but finding the inside unfit to eat. We know the little joy of finding a piece of fruit at the peak of full ripeness.

At the right time, the Father sent His Son to be with us. Roman occupation was not a pretty backdrop. Corruption and self-congratulation among Sadducees and Pharisees did not glorify the Lord. Racism and ethnic segregation did not establish the right relationship with God.

But He still loved His creation; He still sent His Son.

Jesus did the works of the Father. And He challenged those who rejected Him to “believe the works”. He urged His disciples to distinguish true teaching from false teaching by examining the fruits.

The Christmas carol that begins by proclaiming, "Joy to the world!" concludes by pointing to the fruits of the coming of the King of glory. He does not rule the world with oppression and brute force. He rules "with truth and grace". As a consequence, those of all nations who elevate Him demonstrate the glory of right relationships, right hearts, right speech, and right actions.

And the final fruit in the last verse is joy and wonder for His love.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;

break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

—Psalm 98:4

And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.

—Exodus 35:21

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

—Ruth 1:22

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor...

—Isaiah 61:1a

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

—Micah 5:2

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”

—Matthew 25:40

Thorns may be small, but their bite is painful. Their presence among the rose blossoms and blackberries reminds us that, in the present fallen state of the world, beauty and delight are enjoyed in the presence of thorns. And we can, like Paul, take comfort in the Lord's grace.

They remind us, in the third verse of "Joy to the World", that the Lord's return will bring healing, not only to the skin sorrowing from the punctures of thorns, but also to the ground that they infested. His presence, which brings joy even in the present, will bring immeasurable joy with His return.

Thorns remind us that little things matter. That applies to good as well as pain.

The Lord gave Oholiab, Ahisamach, and those who worked with them, the skills and abilities needed to construct and furnish the tabernacle. That work also required materials. Those whose hearts were stirred by the need brought so much that Moses finally had to restrain the people from bringing more. But every gift connected the people to the finished product.

Bethlehem was a little town, seemingly insignificant. Its name was connected to the sorrow of Rachel's burial, and to horrifying deeds in the book of Judges. But it also became the home of a poor immigrant woman whose declaration of love and loyalty still rings in our hearts. And she became an ancester to David.

When Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice, Jesse seems to have assumed that David was too small to be significant. But after Samuel commanded David's presence, the Lord identified David as the one who would lead Israel.

And Jesus taught in clear language that treatment of “the least” showed the heart's regard for Him, the one who came as an infant to provide blessings "as far as the curse is found."

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.

—Psalm 42:5-6a and 11

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

—Jonah 3:10-4:1

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

—Zechariah 6:16-17

And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

—Matthew 8:34

...complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

—Philippians 2:2-3

The Lord offers His grace to soften hard hearts and lead them to repentance. He came to us in the most gentle form possible—a newborn baby. The announcement of joy that accompanied His birth was an invitation. Some chose to join in the joy. Others did not.

The wise men from the east, who came searching for Him, bearing gifts, rejoiced to find Him. Herod, the corrupt ruler concerned with his own power, was willing to commit mass murder, spreading terror and grief.

During the public ministry of Jesus, a centurion in Capernaum showed that some Romans were made of better stuff. His faithful request on behalf of his servant—and the response of Jesus that “many will come from east and west” demonstrated that the arrival of Jesus had a reach far beyond Bethlehem or Judea. Still, there were some without concern for others. Instead of joy on behalf of those set free of demons, the Gadarenes seemed more concerned about the pigs. They asked Jesus to go away. He did as they requested.

The Law, the prophets, and the teaching of Jesus emphasized love of God and love of neighbor. But those who wanted to justify themselves, or who wanted a loophole, tried to limit the definition of "neighbor." Jonah was angry when God showed mercy to Nineveh. The lawyer who spoke to Jesus wanted a definition of neighbor, “desiring to justify himself”.

Paul used to think that way. Until he met Jesus.

Later on, in his letter to the believers at Philippi, Paul called on them to have the mind that he described as “yours in Christ Jesus”, the mind that set aside selfishness in order to care for others. The way the "Good Samaritan did". The way Paul did. The way Jesus did.

To bring the completion of joy.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the Lord, for he comes,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,

and the peoples in his faithfulness.

—Psalm 96:11-13

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

—Luke 10:29

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

—Colossians 1:19-20

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

—Jude 1:17-19

John Lennox, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Oxford University, has pointed out that the well-known early figures in the development of western science expected to find law in nature because of their belief in a law-giver.

Luke records the heavens erupting with a message of joy to the shepherds. Jesus, in the model prayer for His disciples, prayed, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Psalm 19 describes the heavens as declaring God's glory and the sun as running “its course with joy.”

The ancient Greeks saw the planets moving differently in the sky than the stars, so they thought of them as vagabonds or wanderers—planetai—which eventually became the English word "planet". But the planets do not wander aimlessly; they follow laws that took humans centuries to understand in progressively greater clarity.

But, at ground level, order requires effort. Weeds and thorns "infest the ground". Production of food depends on labor. Genesis 3 points to disobedience as the root cause. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome of creation groaning as it awaits freedom from bondage to corruption.

The coming of the One who sets things right has caused—and will cause—heaven and nature to sing for joy. And that knowledge calls for human hearts to prepare Him room.