Joy of Jesus

Jack Davis

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Heb. 12:1-4

No one else in the universe has left such height and wealth of glory, and come to such depth of poverty and  humility as has Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son. He is the one, the only one, Psa. 19:1-6. He being supernaturally enabled finished His course with Joy. With our focus on Him we draw that which is needed for our race. “Joy to the world:” His birth was announced as “good tidings of great joy,” Lk. 2:10-14. Jesus was to be the cause of occasion of joy on earth, and rejoicing in highest heaven. His obedient life was a great joy to the Father. He greatly enjoyed doing the Father’s will. The word “joy” from the Greek expresses great gladness, delight, cheerfulness, calm delight. Our rejoicing is generally expressing the delight, gladness that is ours because of totally trusting Him - I Pet. 1:8.

HIS JOY IN ANTICIPATION: “The joy set before Him.” In Proverbs eight we read about Jesus as wisdom personified. “Doth not wisdom cry?…I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures – Vs. 1,20-21. As we read of our Lord before and during creation in verses 22-31, the expression of the time element are interesting and worthy of notice. Especially notice, “I was there” verses 27 and 31, “my delights were with the sons of men.”

JOY IN REDEMPTION: In the New Testament we read that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Him, Col. 2:3. In Jesus Christ, God hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence according to the riches of his grace (through redemption), Eph. 1:6-8. God has made Jesus Christ unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, I Cor. 1:30. Therefore we may understand that before the first creation Jesus could delight in foreseeing a New Creation. He found enjoyment, and took delight in the fact that one day He would have with Him the ultimate outcome of redemption. Hallelujah! His redeemed would be the amazing, astounding result of grace abounding.

HE ENDURED THE CROSS: As Jesus was coming to the end of His earthly course he experienced deep almost overwhelming sorrow in the garden. This man of sorrows, acquainted with grief deserves the highest and greatest joy. It was said of Him, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows,” Psa. 45:7. No one has gone farther in love of righteousness, or hatred of wickedness than our beloved Lord. No one else could be so extended or expended in the measure of our Lord. The full overcomers gladly gives Him all the joy possible from their life, and will always go on their face before Him.

JOY OVER SINNER’S REPENTANCE: There is joy in heaven, in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents, Lk. 15:7,10. Yet, it is only because of redemption that such is possible. All turning to God would be wasted effort if deliverance from the penalty, power and presence of sin had not been paid for. 

JOY IN RESURRECTION: It is prophetically expressed in Psalm 16:9-11. “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh shall also rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see Corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

JOY IN REVELATION: “The seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Jesus answered, “In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because you names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father; Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him” - Lk. 10:17-22. I especially enjoy considering the things that gave Jesus joy while He walked here, and since that time, and on into the future. The same things should delight our hearts also. As we are receptive to the Holy Spirit, our dear Lord takes great delight in revealing the Father to those that are simple enough to believe His Word. We also enjoy others coming into deeper revelations in Christ Jesus.

JOY IN SPIRITUAL REPRODUCTION: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” John 15:11. Jesus teaches in this chapter about abiding in Him, obedience, and fruit bearing. He speaks of fruit, more fruit, and much fruit which glorifies the Father. We find there is always room for increase as we abide in the realm of fruitfulness, dependant completely upon Him. His joy becomes our joy as the product of the new creation life. It is only as we abide in Him that He increases our capacity for the fullness of His joy.

JOY AT HIS RETURN: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” – Jude 24-25. Paul spoke of the saints at Philippi as his joy and crown, Phil. 4:1, and the saints at Thessalonica as his hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming – I Thess. 2:19-20. Shall not our dear Lord have exceeding joy at His glorious appearing in presenting by the side of Himself a glorious church without spot and wrinkle – Eph. 5:27? O, the “exceeding joy in the presence of His glory!!!”