John the Baptist’s last testimony encapsulated his entire life and ministry: I am not the Christ. In John 3:27-36, he gives a stunning litany of truths about Jesus Christ in contrast to himself: Christ is the bridegroom, not John, Christ is from heaven, not John; Christ speaks the words of God directly from God, not John; Christ has been given all things by His loving Father, not John; Christ is the source of eternal life; not John.
From the very beginning of Christ’s ministry, John pointed away from Himself to declare the singular glory of Christ. In John 1:29, he declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Here in John 3:28, John reiterates that he is not the Christ. In fact, from the very beginning, John exalted Christ, not himself, as he leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when she came into contact with the pregnant Mary (Luke 1:44). And in being sent ahead of Christ and pointing to Him and then finally seeing Him, John’s pre-born joy “has been made full” (Jn 1:29).
The joy of Christmas is in proclaiming to our hearts and to each other the same message as John’s: The Son of God has come into the world to speak the very words of God, to give the Holy Spirit without measure, and to take away our sins. That joy leaps in our hearts because we know what these truths mean in our hearts. And so, we point others to Christ, calling them to believe in Him for eternal life.
Is Jesus my joy? Your joy? Or is life fundamentally about me? About my glory? About my desires? If so, Christmas will not be a time of joy because joy only comes through worshiping Christ. Joy, true and lasting joy, is not found here on the earth; it was never meant to be.
But as we realize the gifts we have been given through Christ, we cannot help but leap for joy at our Messiah. As the glory of Christ fills our hearts and takes up more and more of our field of vision, He increases, and we decrease. And as He increases, so too our joy.
Let Him in. Let more of Him in. Let more of His word dwell in your hearts this season. For His glory…and for your joy.
