I first learnt this carol as part of the children’s choir in my home church, First Assembly of God Kuala Lumpur. At first, I did not fully understand the meaning of this carol. The focus was on getting the notes right as part of the tenor section. I also had to sing it in Mandarin, again without understanding the meaning of the words.
 
As I grew up, I came to appreciate the message of this carol, particularly the first line which sounds odd, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” At first, I thought there was a grammatical error with this line. Later I discover that it is old English (written in 1719 by Isaac Watts), emphasising the present (not past) aspect of the incarnation.
 
The carol speaks of the joy that filled the entire creation, including heaven and earth, for the coming of Jesus to break the curse of sins and death and restore peace and justice. It is the hope of creation manifested and fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the true King of the world.
 
Family and friends sing the carol as part of our worship of Jesus. It is always uplifting and reminds us of the hope we find in Christ. When I hear these carols in shopping malls, carolling or in church, it is a testimony of the grace of God, overflowing in this world. I just can’t help but sing along whenever I hear them, whether in the Church, at home, or in cafés.
 
It will be helpful to teach the next generation the meaning of the carols, rather than just singing them as just Christmas festive songs. These carols are proclamations of God’s redemptive works.

In December 1986, a group of young people from the Malaysia Campus Crusade came to my hometown in Slim River. They went from house to house preaching about Jesus and invited villagers to Christmas celebrations.
 
On Christmas Day 1986, I walked into the church for the first time, and everything was new to me. They sang many Christmas carols, one of which was ‘Joy to the World’. This Christmas carol excited me, and the lyrics kept circling in my mind: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King… ”
 
I thought, what kind of God can make the whole earth receive Him as King? Many great dynasties and emperors have come and gone throughout history. Yet today, people are still singing songs about Jesus and his birth from two thousands years ago.

Jesus is the Redeemer of our world, and this Christmas, I pray that Christ’s salvation will bring grace and blessing to the world in challenging and difficult times.

As a young boy, one of the highlights I looked forward to each Christmas Eve was the Christmas carollers, dressed in white like angels making their way to my house. I was mesmerised by the exuberant and joyful singing of the song, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King…”
 
This lifted my spirit and reminded me that Lord Jesus has come, and that whoever repents and receives Him as his or her Saviour, will come into a unique relationship with Him, becoming a child of God.
 
The song also declared that our benevolent Saviour rules the earth with truth and grace, and that His love is full of wonders. That is why it is not just my favourite carol but also my family’s. I hear this song played in shopping malls during the Christmas season as well.
 
For the younger generation, they are more accustomed to hearing this song with an upbeat tempo like Mariah Carey or Boney M’s version. But hopefully they will take notice of the lyrics too, and receive the joy and hope it brings.