After he (Jesus) had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 1:3

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come.” Having created the universe in the beginning (1:2), and having sustained all things in the meantime (1:3), Jesus did precisely what He had come to do. He came “to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.” The curse of original sin had most certainly left the proving ground of mankind’s soul a thorny mess that only a Savior could uproot. So the Son came to earth and provided purification for sins. He paid our penalty in full. Now that’s a reason to joyfully sing! 

And then Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven! The Israelites had been performing sacrificial purification for their sins since Moses. Now there was no further need for such purging. As He said on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Done! Finis! Sin’s curse gone! The radiance of God’s glory (1:3) could return to take His place at the Father’s right hand. 

To completely finish what you started to do is a really big deal. I love it when I have finished a task and can go and sit down and put my feet up. Rarely though am I done-done. The bathrooms will need to be cleaned next week, those annoying weeds pulled in short order, my impatient tone softened yet another time, and my pesky sins repented of—again. On the other hand, the flow of divine purification will never abate. Jesus can truly put His feet up, not that He has though. Rather, He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for those He has saved completely (Hebrews 7:25).

The final verse of Watts’ joyful carol captures both the source of that purification and the continuing surge of God’s love for His creation. From the depths of His nature stream truth and grace and glory and righteousness and love, engulfing us all in its wonder. In return we are reminded that it is up to us to prove His glory and wonder in our demeanor—a challenge for the year to come. 

“He rules the world with truth and grace

 And makes the nations prove

 The glories of His righteousness

 And wonders of His love.”

“Joy to the World! The Lord is come.”

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973,1978,1984, unless otherwise noted.