Joy to the World

I love Jon Bloom. I read whatever he writes. His beautiful essay, "When Christ Will Come: Why Christmas Keeps Us Waiting," is up at DesiringGod.org.

It is altogether right for us to sing at Christmas, “Joy to the world, the Lord is [meaning has] come!” Indeed, he has come. And why did he come the first time? To make it possible for “his blessings [to] flow far as the curse is found.” Jesus was born to accomplish a work that would purchase the full redemption of his people and his world.

That’s why all the references to the birth of Jesus in the New Testament have a significant future orientation: Christmas is about what’s coming.