Joy To The World The Lord Has Come

We sing 'Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come' every Christmas season, but have we truly grasped what it means to call Jesus 'Lord'? This powerful exploration takes us beyond the manger scene to understand that Jesus didn't become Lord at Bethlehem—He has always been Lord. From the Old Testament theophanies where God walked with Abraham, appeared to Joshua as the Commander of the Lord's armies, and spoke to Moses from the burning bush, we see that the Lord has always existed in authority and power. The angel's announcement in Luke 2:11 declares a Savior 'who is Christ the Lord'—not who will become, but who already is. The Greek term for Lord means master, owner, absolute authority—the One who has the right to command obedience. Yet this same Lord humbled Himself, as Philippians 2 beautifully illustrates, taking the form of a servant and washing His disciples' feet. Here's where true joy enters: not in the cute baby in the manger, but in recognizing, receiving, and surrendering to Jesus as Lord. When we submit to His lordship, we discover that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We don't have to be God, fix everything, or control everyone. Joy comes when we willingly bow to the kingdom order, allowing the Lord to decide, direct, correct, and command our lives. Isaiah 45 declares that every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance—the question is whether we'll do it willingly now or reluctantly later.