Joy Bells Are Ringing

Ringing out the joy of Christmas means celebrating Jesus’ birth and sharing His light, hope, and peace with the world.

“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:10–11 NASB

He was a schoolteacher as a young adult, but Nils Frykman put aside his teaching career to preach the Gospel and compose hymns full time. He moved to America where he pastored several churches and continued to write hymns.

In 1881, overwhelmed with the message of the Christmas season, Frykman wrote a hymn we know as “Joy Bells Are Ringing,” from the English translation made in 1946 by E. Gustav Johnson. It’s filled with images of light and reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world.

Frykman wrote of candles that are gleaming and how “light is ascending, nighttime is ending, sunshine from God appears.”

Christmas was to be a time of joy, as the bells ring out the “tidings of Jesus’ birth” and “gladness is streaming out over all the earth.” It was a time of hope as Jesus came “to dispel all fears” and bring “grace to the lowly.”

The message of the angels conveyed peace and joy, as they urged the shepherds to hail “the newborn King!” Now we can join in as with “jubilation peoples and nations” sing His praises.

Today, join with the angels and celebrate the joy of the Christmas news. Jesus has come! Don’t hide your light, but brightly shine your testimony so all can see. Ring out the Good News!

In the words of Nils Frykman, thanks to Jesus, we can “banish all sadness” and be filled “with gladness.”

Reflection Question: How will you celebrate the joy of Christmas today?