Christmas can be a stressful and busy season. It's a season where ironically, joy and peace can be hard to find.
Yet, the very first Christmas reminds us that joy is central not only to the Christmas story but to the whole Christian message.
For wise men (known as 'magi') from the East follow a star and arrive in Bethlehem. There, they find the baby Jesus and His mother, and when they see Him, they were overwhelmed with joy.
The Magi rejoiced with extremely great joy, not simply because they finally reached the goal of their long quest and could now go home and rest.
No, they were joyful because they saw the baby King, for themselves.
They had laid their eyes upon the one who would be King of all nations, the One who would save His people from their sins.
And that, was the source of great joy.
